OBITUARIES
James “Jim” A. Bower Jr.
James “Jim” A. Bower Jr.
September 12, 1945 – July 11, 2017
STONEBURG- James “Jim” A. Bower Jr., 71, was called home to be with the angels and the Lord after a long illness. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on July 11, 2017.
A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. July 29 at Stoneburg Baptist Church at 8266 US Highway 81 in Stoneburg.
He was born Sept. 12, 1945 in Wichita, KS to James Alfred Bower Sr. and Irma Eileen Brooks Bower.
Jim married the love of his life Elizabeth Ann Camp on June 16, 1969. They had two beautiful daughters Meredith and Susan.
Jim was a loving and devoted husband and father who always put family first. He encouraged his daughters to be self-sufficient and creative, teaching them ceramics, candle making from the bees wax from his hives, casting gold and silver rings, photographing, fishing and skeet shooting, as well as target shooting.
In his earlier years, he was an avid hunter and mountain climber. Most of all Jim enjoyed collecting. Jim worked for Xerox Corporation in Dallas for many years and retired to become a rancher and raise his beloved longhorn cattle.
Jim was a caring person who always watched out for those not so fortunate particularly abused children. After he retired, Jim volunteered more than 500 hours of his time as a child advocate “CASA” Jim also served as an early member of the Montague County Child Welfare Board.
For many years Jim and Elizabeth enjoyed driving a SAG wagon for the Hotter N’ Hell 100 bicycle race in Wichita Falls in honor of their deceased daughter Meredith.
Jim was preceded in death by daughter, Meredith Ann Hatch; and his parents, James and Irma Bower.
He is survived by Elizabeth, his wife of 48 years, Susan Bower Nantz; daughter, Susan; six grandchildren, Madison Burt, Justin and Jordyn Nantz, Dalton, Jacob and Jared Hatch; and five nephews, Ross and Clay Camp, Benjamin and Matthew Cox and Charles Camp Jr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Stoneburg Baptist Church building fund. The mailing address is Stoneburg Baptist Church, 8266 US Highway 81, Bowie, TX 76230.
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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