OBITUARIES
Rev. Larry Barlow
Rev. Larry Barlow
January 18, 1942 – June 26, 2017
Bowie—The Rev. Larry Barlow, 75, met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face on June 26, 2017.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. June 29 at First Baptist in Bowie with the Rev. Mike Henson officiating.
A graveside service will be at 10:15 a.m. June 30 at DFW National Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Merritt officiating.
Larry was born on Jan. 18, 1942 in Fitchburg, MA and moved to Texas in 1954 with his mother Grace Smith Barlow and his father Lee Adrian Barlow.
He graduated from Wayland Baptist College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1968 and in 1973 Larry received his masters of divinity from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He later went on to earn his doctorate of theology from California Graduate School in 1984 and a masters of arts in education from New Mexico State University in 1997.
As a Southern Baptist preacher, he was the pastor of churches in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico for 40 years. Larry taught special education in Anthony, NM for several years. He retired from the pastorate in 2008 and moved to Bowie to be near his sister, Pamela Barlow, DVM.
Larry was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Bowie where he led the singing for his Sunday school class and also sang in the choir. He and his wife Janet were involved in many of the activities with senior adult group. Larry was also active with the Bowie Senior Citizens Center, Friends of the Library and the Hospice Store in Bowie. He was a big science fiction fan, loved to garden, and Larry and his wife loved to go on family cruises.
He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Janet Barlow; daughter, Karyn Barlow, Rio Rancho, NM, who was the apple of his eye; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Barlow, Albuquerque, NM, who was his princess, studing performance arts at UNM; sisters, Sandy Rewis and her husband Earl, Richmond Hills, GA, Pamela Barlow, DVM, Bowie and Vanessa Akin and her husband Pogo, Stafford, VA; sister-in-law, Judy Hughes and her husband Hal; niece, Kathy Hughes, Austin; and nephew, Clint Hughes and his wife Jessica, Oakdale, MN.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the exceptional staff of Solaris and Advanced Rehab for their wonderful compassionate care of my husband and myself.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church and/or to the American Cancer Society.
Paid publication
Hawkins Funeral Home
Decatur, TX | 940-627-5959 | www.hawkinsfuneralhome.com
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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