OBITUARIES
Lynn Vassil Adams
May 3, 1945 – October 7, 2024
WILSON, OK – Lynn Vassil Adams, 79, died on Oct. 7 at home in Wilson, OK.
A visitation was from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 9 at First United Methodist Church in Nocona officiated by ministers Dave Woodbury and Austin Wright. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. in Bomar Point Cemetery in Wilson, OK.
He was born May 3, 1945 at home in Wilson, OK to Louie and Susie (Griffin) Adams. He worked hard all his life starting at the age of eight as a shoe shine boy. He graduated from Wilson High School class of 1963 then was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967. He was stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany after training at Fort Polk, LA and spent two years serving the country.
While stationed in Germany, Mary followed him after her college graduation and they were married on Aug. 19, 1967. Upon his release he returned to Oklahoma and continued his education and received his bachelor of arts degree in business and marketing at Central State College in Edmond, OK. While attending college, he worked for a body shop fixing automobiles, and after graduation he then went to work for Olivetti-Underwood as a salesman selling business products. They returned to the Ardmore area and he went to work in the oil field pulling pipe, and throughout his adult life and career had ties to oil field business.
The couple were in the health care business for eight years while investing in oil production. They then built Uncle Lynn’s Catfish Restaurant in Wichita Falls in 1987 and sold it in 1996. In 2000, they built and opened Cherry Street Village Assisted Living in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise (Buck) Adams; his parents, Louie and Susie; brothers, Jack Adams, Billy Adams, Dicky Adams and Robert Adams; sisters, Tommy Lou Idleman, Norma Rutledge and Judy Glasco; four brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; seven nephews and four nieces.
He is survived by three sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; 26 nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.
November 5, 1938 – April 18, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – Maggie Killen, 87, died on April 18, 2026.
A graveside service took place at 1 p.m. on April 27 at Salona Cemetery near Bowie.
She was born on Nov. 5, 1938 in Bowie to Bertha Irene (Brewer) and Emmett Franklin Thompson. She was a graduate of Bowie High School. She was an oil information secretary and later in life as a business office manager in a skilled nursing home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bertha Irene and Emmett Franklin Thompson: sisters; Gracie McNatt, Berneice Oliver, Ola Mae Deeton, Ernestine Ray and Dorothy Woolf: brothers; Kelly Thompson, John Thompson, Lonnie Thompson, Wayne Thompson and Tommy Thompson; son, Ricky Wallace and daughter, Vicki Cullens.
She is survived by two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to University Park Nursing and Rehab.
June 4, 1947 – April 19, 2026
SPAINSH FORT – Sammy Joe Mitchell, 78, died on April 19, 2026.
There was a visitation from 5-6 p.m. on April 24 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. on April 25 at Spanish Fort Cemetery in Spanish Fort.
He was born on June 4, 1947 in Nocona to Bonnie O. Mitchell Jr. & Mary Lou Cross Mitchell. He grew up in the Spanish Fort area and went to school at Prairie Valley Schools. He was a hard-working farmer, rancher and mechanic all of his life and served his nation in the Airforce. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Spanish Fort. He married the love of his life Robbie Hawthorne on May 8, 1971 in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steven Chris Mitchell.
He is survived by his wife, Robbie Mitchell, Spanish Fort; children, Joe Chris Mitchell, Spanish Fort and Kasie Hamilton, Bowie; sister, Bonnie Robertson, Spanish Fort; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to The Montague County Youth Fair, c/o Kenton Holloway, 5549 F.M. 1758, Bowie, TX 76230.
November 8, 1958 – April 20, 2026
NOCONA – Lesli Jan Phipps, 67, died on April 20, 2026.
There was a funeral service at 2 p.m. on April 23 at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona with Pastor David Rogers officiating. The interment followed in Hope Cemetery, Henrietta. Pallbearers were Will Johnson, Ben Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Kaye Rhoades, Tom Skinner and Bill Holcomb.
She was born in Nocona on Nov. 8, 1958 to Gerald “Jerry” and Lucia Painter Johnson. She grew up in Nocona and graduated Nocona High School in 1977. She attended Bethel Baptist Church. She later attended college at Midwestern State University and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She worked mostly in accounting for Northrop Grumman. She married Curtis Phipps on June 3 2021 in Henrietta.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Curtis Phipps, Nocona; children, Blake Gantz, Euless, Emily Gantz Hicks, Hoover, AL and Garrett Palla, Denton; brother, Craig Johnson; and one grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at www.komen.org.
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