OBITUARIES
Mary Helen Vaughn
Mary Helen Vaughn
January 14, 1926 – September 23, 2017
STEPHENVILLE – Mary Helen Vaughn, 91, went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 23, 2017.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 27 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. at the West End Cemetery in Stephenville.
Mary was born Jan. 14, 1926 in Hico where she lived with her family on a small farm. She always had very fond memories of their lives there. She graduated from high school in Clariette and then moved to Stephenville.
Mary married Cecil Vaughn on March 9, 1950 in Stephenville. Mary worked in insurance offices in Stephenville for more than 30 years and then opened her own insurance office, Vaughn Insurance Agency, and worked for several more years.
Mary’s treasure was her family. They knew she was always there for them and was ready to do whatever was needed for them. It was also very important to her that she helped anyone that had a need.
Her family all remember delivering food that she had prepared to friends and neighbors and her working in the background of the church. She would wash dishes at church activities, work in the nursery and help teach children in Sunday school.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Vaughn; parents, Lela Mae and W.B. Walker; sister, Orpha Dell Barnes; and two brothers, W.B. Walker and Neil Walker.
Mary is survived by her two daughters, Vickie Siebman and husband, Dwight; Patti Russell and husband Grady; four grandchildren, Cody Simmons and wife Maggie, Clay Simmons and wife Nicole, Corrie Siebman and husband Ricky, and Wade Siebman and wife Amanda; nine great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Should friends desire, memorials maybe made to the missions fund or the building fund at the First Baptist Church in Bowie.
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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