OBITUARIES
Helen Aliene Bledsoe
April 19, 1926 – January 30, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – Helen Aliene Bledsoe, 95, passed away Jan. 30, 2022 in Oklahoma City, OK.
Services are at 2 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Resthaven Funeral Home, Oklahoma City, followed by a graveside service in Cushing, OK.
Helen was born in Yale, OK on April 19, 1926 to Frank and Jenny (Caulkins) James. She married George Bledsoe on Sept. 8, 1946 and they shared a life together for 30 years until his passing on Nov. 17, 1976.
Ms. Helen was a member of Christian Life Fellowship Church in Moore, OK for many years where she served as mentor, Sunday school teacher and puppeteer through the King’s Kids program. She loved working in her flower beds, reading and attending the many activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was known for her beautiful warm smile and helping hands. Helen was a down-home southern cook, and will always be remembered for her pineapple upside down cake and amazing chicken and noodles.
When Helen’s health declined in the later years, she traveled between Oklahoma City and Montague as her daughters stepped in as caregivers. While in Montague, Helen attended Montague United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church and First Free Will Baptist Church in Bowie, where she was loved and supported by all three church families. Many will remember her as the little lady at the front who rocked and clapped while singing all the words to the old hymns without a hymnal.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, George Bledsoe; parents, Frank and Jenny James, five sisters and two brothers.
She is survived by her daughters Sandy Owens and husband Chuck, and Saunda Ruff and Husband Rick; grandchildren Rich Owens and wife Amy, Scot Owens and wife Amanda, Chad Ruff and wife Andrea and David Ruff; great-grandchildren Olivia Lane and husband Evan, Noah Owens, Emerson Owens, Allie Ruff, CJ Ruff, Jayden Ruff and Jazmyn Ruff; special friends, Lanny Hunt and Ann Campbell, as well as many loving family members and friends.
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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