OBITUARIES
Ronald Tarver Bailey
Ronald Tarver Bailey
July 2, 1931 – November 8, 2017
FORESTBURG – Ronald Tarver Bailey, 86, passed away Nov. 8, 2017 in Bowie, TX.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 11 at The White Family Funeral Home.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at Carter Lake Road Church of Christ in Bowie. Burial will follow at Perryman Cemetery in Forestburg.
Ron was born July 2, 1931 in Wheeler County to John Henry (Jack) Bailey and Juanita Idelle Bonner Bailey. His family moved to his grandfather’s place in Forestburg in 1933. He married Betty Jean Anderson in 1956 in Lubbock.
Ron graduated from Forestburg School in 1948. He played basketball four years and was selected as all district guard his senior year. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Abilene Christian College. He was employed by the Soil Conservation Service in Lubbock and then the Lubbock Children’s Home as campus manager.
In 1962 Ron and his wife purchased Sentinel (Bailey’s) Bookstore in Lubbock. During the 38 years they owned and operated the bookstore, Ron was elected to the board of directors, vice president and president of Christian Booksellers International, also serving as chairman of the ethics committee.
He was a member of Southwest Rotary Club of Lubbock where he received the William H. Tinney Ethics Award and was also named a Paul Harris Fellow, an international Rotary award. As a small business owner, he tirelessly promoted entrepreneurship, teaching and developing multiple education programs for elementary school through college.
He served two years in the U.S. Army as a sergeant during the Korean War, where he taught anti-aircraft and guided missile school. He was an instructor for Dale Carnegie Courses.
What many family deeply appreciate about Ron is his 40 year practice of daily Bible reading. He loved God’s word. He taught Bible class from his 20s through his 70s, teaching children through adults. Having an avid interest in training Bible teachers, Ron had more than 500 Bible teacher training and workshops and directed more than 40 vacation bible schools. He served more than ten years as the volunteer education director for the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock.
After retiring to his home place in Forestburg in 2001, Ron developed an enthusiasm for purple martin birds; he conducted more than a dozen purple martin workshops. He collected a display of 30 horse-drawn farm equipment implements. Ron enjoyed helping with community activities such as the Watermelon Festival, Education Foundation, the Spring Banquet, Forestburg Community Watch and opening their home for fellowship gatherings.
Ron is survived by his wife, Betty; three children, Becky Jean Bailey Hankins, Roger Lee Bailey and Bonnie Jean Bailey Holleman; 10 grandsons and two great grandchildren.
Arrangements have been entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home of 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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