OBITUARIES
Beverly A. Russell Ensey
January 22, 1935 – July 17, 2022
BOWIE – Beverly A. Russell Ensey, 87, went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 17, 2022.
Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. on July 19, at The White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on July 20, at the Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona. Burial will follow at Nocona Cemetery.
Beverly was born on Jan. 22, 1935 to H.E. “Brownie” and Bonita Brown in Graham. Beverly grew up in Nocona and attended Nocona schools. She was a majorette during her high school years until her graduation in 1953. Beverly grew up working in her parents’ cafe in Nocona and that is where she met the first love of her life, Don Russell. She and Don married on Nov. 5, 1953. They were happily married for 36 years before his passing. During their marriage they had two children, Richard “Dicky” Russell and Teri Russell Link. Beverly spent many years in the retail business. She also loved to garden, shop and decorate her home. She always made her house magical at Christmas for her family.
Don Russell passed on Feb. 20, 1989. 10 years later Beverly met the second love of her life, Dawson Ensey. They married on Feb. 20, 1999 and made their home in Nocona for many years before moving to Bowie recently. Together they enjoyed traveling and attending western swing festivals.
Beverly is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don Russell; brothers, Ronnie Brown and Billy Brown; sister, Jo Brown Witt; step-daughters, Iris Ensey and Angela Ensey Driskill and great-granddaughter, Taylor Ann Weber.
Beverly is survived by her husband, Dawson Ensey, Bowie; son, Dicky Russell, Katy, TX; daughter, Teri Russell Link and husband Wesley, Bowie; step-children, Sherry Floyd, Albuquerque, NM and Byron Ensey and wife Loretta, Forestburg; sister, Delores Brown Lemons, Nocona; grandchildren, Brent Russell and wife Lori, Colorado, Jennifer Russell Hodges and husband Derek, Lewisville, Justin Russell, Denton, Andrew Russell and wife Madison, Sanger, Kolby Weber and wife Emily, Nocona, Karly Weber, Bowie and Kamry Weber and wife Kealy, Nocona and great-grandchildren, Matthew, Ella and Olivia Russell, Avery, Jack, Liam, Harper and Hudson Hodges, Baylin, Wyatt and Riley Russell and Presley, Landon and Brooks Weber.
Arrangements entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
Paid publication
Bowie, Texas
(940)-872-9993
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.
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS3 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS3 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News