OBITUARIES
Abel Waddill Cline, Jr.
Abel Waddill Cline, Jr.
July 24, 1925 – February 25, 2016
LOUISIANA – Abel Waddill Cline, Jr., 90, died Feb. 25, 2016.
According to his wishes he was cremated. He requested no service or memorial be had. His ashes will be spread in the same location as those of his late wife, Jane.
He was born July 24, 1925 to Abel Waddill Cline and Florence Wilbert Cline in Plaquemine, LA where he spent many happy summers. He was raised, with his older brother George in Bowie. He attended Bowie High School and graduated in 1943.
He enlisted in the U. S. Army, was assigned to an engineering unit, and trained at Texas A&M before being deployed.
His unit built roads and bridges for Allied advancement and helped in the start of the rebuilding of Europe. He mustered out a Sergeant in communications in 1946.
He attended North Texas State College in Denton where he received a bachelor of accounting and later a master of education. While there he met Jane Loftis whom he married in 1949.
He and Jane built a house on Idiot’s Hill in Denton and during the years filled it with children. He taught both math and driver’s education at Denton Junior High School and was part owner of The Denton Commercial Print Shop.
He spent many years as a sofa referee for the high school football games in Denton County. Until his health disallowed it, he was an avid pilot and flew his own Piper Tri Pacer.
In 2015 he created the Anton Wilbert foundation to give back to the city of Plaquemine, LA and named it in honor of his great grandfather whose legacy enriched his life. He loved dogs and public television.
He is survived by all his children, Sarah (Sally), Kay, her husband, Steve and their children, Christa and Mark, Abel III and his children, David and Pam, Martha, Virginia and her son, Michael, Gretchen, Amanda, Priscilla and her husband, Noel, and their children, A.J., Zac and Ethan, and, David and his children, Austin and Alaina.
His family wants to thank and is deeply grateful to Dr. Emmanuel Desai in Lewisville for his extensive care and treatment of their father/grandfather through the years; and also to thank Dr. Gregory F. Kozielec in Denton for helping him keep his eyesight.
In lieu of flowers his family requests any donations be sent to one’s local animal shelter, local public television station, or to the Anton Wilbert Foundation, P.O. Box 694, Plaquemine, LA 70764.
Paid publication
Arrangements entrusted to
Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home
740 S. Edmonds, Lewisville, TX | 972.436.4581
June 9, 1945 – April 29, 2026
BOWIE – Barbara Jean Latham, 80, beloved mother, passed away on April 29, 2026 when her battle with cancer ended.
Barbara was laid to rest at Bomarton Cemetery, next to her husband.
Barbara was born on June 9, 1945, in Portland, OR. She was a long-time resident of Sweetwater. She spent the last part of her life living in Bowie. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She also loved her ladies (chickens) and garage sales.
Barbara was preceded in death by her loving husband, James Young Latham and her mother, Adeline Mae Ballenger.
Barbara is survived by her son Harold Betts; daughters, Jamie Latham Shaw and Jenisu Latham; siblings Buddy Covington, Thomas Covington, Ronnie Covington, Sharon Covington Posey, Joe Covington, Melissa Evans and Judy Johson; and numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
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.
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS3 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS3 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News