OBITUARIES
Jeffrey Anthony Jakse
Jeffrey Anthony Jakse
September 7, 1944 – September 17, 2015
MONTAGUE – Jeff Jakse, 71, passed away September 17, 2015, in Dallas, TX.
Jeff was born in Cleveland, OH to Frank and Frances (Cerkvenik) Jakse. He graduated from West Geauga High School in Chesterland, OH in 1962 and he attended classes at Mac Murray College and Abilene Christian College in Abilene. He served as a bomb navigation systems mechanic for the B-52 in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1968.
After his military service, he worked for a government electronics manufacturing company tuning radio sets in Golden, CO then worked for several years at the BF Goodrich plant in Orange, TX as an instrument technician. He moved to Montague in the early 1970s where he owned Jeff Jakse Refrigeration Service for many years. He also operated a waste management company in Montague County.
He enjoyed dancing, growing all types of plants, especially dewberries and roses, spending time with his dogs and reading, especially westerns and science fiction. An avid enthusiast for environmental responsibility, he took every opportunity to minimize his impact on the environment and would encourage those around him to do the same.
Jeff is survived by his daughters, Tiffany Mussman, and Angela Burgess and her husband Roy; his grandchildren, Samantha Jones, Austin Jones and his wife Felicia, Tessa Mussman and Chase Mussman; his great-granddaughter: Lilian Jones; siblings, Patricia Hazlett and her husband Jack, Winifred Debaltzo, Dennis Jakse, and Ginger Curl and her husband Clarence; nieces and nephews, Holly, Shilo, Helen, Vanessa and Sonia; and his close friends Mary Reed, and Phil Young and his wife Fay.
In keeping with his desire to make the least impact on the environment as possible, Jeff chose to donate his body to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In lieu of flowers or cards, please honor his memory with a gift to the Nature Conservancy at www.nature.org.
Paid publication
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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