OBITUARIES
Ina Louise Cooper
Ina Louise Cooper
March 4, 1941 – June 30, 2017
BURNET – Ina Louise Cooper, 76, passed away on June 30, 2017 in Austin, TX.
A memorial service and gathering of friends will be in Mexia in the fall.
Ina was born in Mexia on March 4, 1941. She graduated from University of Texas in Austin with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She also played the clarinet in the marching band.
Ina went to work for TRW in Redondo Beach, CA. TRW transferred her to NASA in Houston where she wrote re-entry coding and firmware for the Apollo Missions. She was later transferred to International Controls Corporation where she worked as a software engineer. She made numerous trips to South America, China, Spain, Sweden and other foreign countries to assist with the marketing of software programs.
Ina loved people and she was very socially active. She loved music, orchid gardening, politics and parties. After the death of her mother, Margaret, to whom she was devoted, Ina moved to Burnet to fulfill a dream of owning a frame shop and antique store on the historic square. She also was involved in the formation of the Friends of Cultural and Historical Preservation of Burnet, was the historian and member of the First United Methodist Church in Burnet and was a Burnet city council member for several years. She will be deeply missed by her friends, many cousins and all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Storey Cooper and father, Roy Elmer Cooper.
She is survived by her cousin, Bobby Storey, Nocona and many Storey and Cooper family cousins.
Donations can be made to First United Methodist Church of Burnet, TX Scholarship Fund, the Mexia High School Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund or Tales and Trails Museum in Nocona, TX.
Arrangements were made by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet.
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.
Paid publication
Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home
Office 512-756-2222 Fax 512-756-7330
www.clementswilcoxburnet.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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