OBITUARIES
Luella Mae Pirtle
June 1, 1925 – November 9, 2021
BOWIE – Luella Mae Pirtle, 96, Lubbock, TX, formerly of Bowie, TX, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 9, 2021.
A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Nov. 13 at the United Presbyterian Church of Montague County in Bowie, with the Rev. Joe Gambill officiating. The burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
Luella was born on June 1, 1925 in Clayton, NM to William and Nora Wright. As a child she moved to Bowie from Dalhart in 1935 during the notorious Dust Bowl. Luella graduated from Bowie High School in 1942, and attended business school in Fort Worth before being employed by the Johnson Poultry Ranch where she worked in the office handling shipping orders. Thus began Luella’s years of being an intricate part of Bowie and the surrounding area. Luella married Willard Pirtle in Oct. 28, 1959 in Bowie, the couple lived in the Bowie and Sunset areas for the entirety of their married, while raising two sons. Luella was the matriarch and operator of the Mark P. Hereford Ranch.
She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church for over 75 years. Not only did she enjoy singing in the choir, but also taught Sunday school for many years and was a former member of the governing session.
Luella served as a member of the board of directors of the Bowie Senior Citizens’ Project and volunteered at the Bowie Mission for 12 years. In past years, when her sons were in Bowie schools, she served as president of the Parent-Teacher Association and was awarded a lifetime membership. She also was a vital part of the Band Parents’ Association. Luella was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award for her work with the Boy Scouts of America. She was one of the last members of the McDowell Music Club of Bowie and was a past worthy matron of Bowie Eastern Star.
She is a member of the Texas Hereford Association and the American Hereford Association, as well as, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. In 1982 during the Bowie Centennial Celebration, she was honored to serve as duchess on the Pioneer Queen’s Court. Thirty-three years later, in 2015 she was again honored to represent Jim Bowie Days as Pioneer Queen and continued to contribute to the ongoing pioneer spirit of the community that she so dearly loved.
She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Floyd Willard Pirtle in 2003.
Luella is survived by her sons, Floyd Pirtle and wife, Susan, Lubbock, Philip Pirtle and Cindy, Spring and grandchildren, Andrew Pirtle, Katie Pirtle and Cassie Pirtle.
Should friends desire, memorials can be made in honor of Mrs. Pirtle, to the Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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(940) 872-9993 www.thewhitefamilyfuneralhome.com
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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