OBITUARIES
Jack J. LeClair
September 14, 1946 – January 28, 2023
SAINT JO – Jack J. LeClair, 76, died on Jan. 28, 2023.
A rosary led by Tom and Denise Koranek was at 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 at Scott Funeral Home. The eulogy was delivered by Jack Lyons. A mass of Christian burial by Fr. Joe Keating was at 10 a.m. on Feb. 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
He was born Sept. 14, 1946 in Ponca City, OK to Jack J. (Chief) LeClair and Grace Jeanette LeClair. He married Dianne Sicking Clegg in 2000. They moved to North Texas and set up a cow/ calf operation with a dedication to managing the native wildlife.
He graduated from Pharr San Juan Alamo High School in 1964. He went on to attend the University of Texas on a baseball scholarship, then to Pan- American College for undergraduate work, where he was a teacher at Ed Couch Elsa Schools. He graduated from Texas A&M Kingsville in 1975 with a master of science in range science and management. He began his career in field development and tech service with Chevron/ Ortho Chemical in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. He also did some doctoral work at Texas A&I.
From 1982-1999, he worked in development and was an integral part of the DuPont Development team that was responsible for introducing new active ingredient chemistry for cotton, cereal, corn, rice, soybeans and range and pasture. From 2000-2003, he was in field development for United Ag Products. Going back to DuPont in 2004, he became part of the DuPont Crop Protection team as a range and pasture specialist. Once again, he developed active ingredient chemistry for range and pasture brush and weed control. He retired from DuPont after 27 years of service. In 2014 he began a three year stint with Bayer Environmental Services in range and pasture sales. He was a longtime member of The Society for Range Management.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Pamela Sue.
He is survived by his wife; brother, Joe LeClair, Oklahoma City; children, Jeff LeClair, Portland, Stephen LeClair, Gonzales and Ashli LeClair, Austin and one grandson.
Memorials may be made to Saint Jo Volunteer Fire Department or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Scott Funeral Home in Saint Jo.
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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