OBITUARIES
William Alonzo “Bill” Anderson
William Alonzo “Bill” Anderson
September 24, 1927 – September 6, 2015
BOWIE – William Alonzo “Bill” Anderson, 87, passed away Sept. 6, 2015 in Bowie, TX.
A memorial prayer service will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
A mass will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 12 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Casper, WY.
Bill was born Sept. 24, 1927 in Hot Springs, AR to John and Mary (Elmore) Anderson. He served his country in the United States Army from April 1950 – 1979 when he retired at the rank of Colonel after 29 years of service. Bill received numerous commendations and meritorious service medals including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Silver Star, Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. He served in the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Cold War.
Bill married Joella Irene Anderson on Sept.6, 1952 in Casper, WY. He attended the University of Missouri where he received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and the University of El Paso where he received a masters degree in hospital administration.
Bill was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church of Bowie and served his community through the Boy Scouts, Rotary and Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Bill will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather and husband.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Anderson; and wife, Joella Anderson.
Bill is survived by his children, Mary Marta Anderson and her husband Robert George, St. Louis, MO, Sigrid Annie Koonce and husband Lee, Burleson, and Arn Anderson and wife Belinda, Bowie; grandchildren, William Wesley Eckley, Andrew James Koonce, Catherine Joella Koonce, Keelan Lewis and husband Kyle, John Carnan Anderson, Walter Delanie Anderson, and Bailey Joella Anderson; and great grandson, Cason Anderson Lewis.
Arrangements have been entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
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OBITUARIES
Maggie Killen
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.
OBITUARIES
Sammy Joe Mitchell
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.
OBITUARIES
Lesli Jan Phipps
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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