OBITUARIES
Lester Wayne Davis
February 24, 1950 – July 29, 2025
BOWIE – Lester Wayne Davis, 75, died on July 29, 2025 in Bowie, TX.
A visitation for family and friends will be from 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 7 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 8 at the White Family Funeral Home Chapel in Bowie. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
He was born Feb. 24, 1950 in Covington, TN to the late F. Lester Davis and Agnes O. (Smith) Davis. He married Jerry Lee Bailey of Ft. Worth in 1973 and later adopted her daughter, Elizabeth Lynn. They celebrated 30 years together before her passing in 2003.
He graduated from Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach, FL in 1968. After graduation he attended Tampa Technical Institute graduating in 1970 with a degree in computer technology. He worked for Control Data until his retirement. His tenure with Contol Data took him all over the U.S. designing, installing and maintaining computer systems. His computer knowledge and skills provided him the exciting opportunity to work with NASA at Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. He also traveled to Minnesota and Washington DC teaching computer engineering curriculum that he created.
In Huntsville, AL, he was intiated in the Masonic Lodge in April 1983 and was raised to the 3rd Degree in June 1983. He joined the Order of the Eastern Star in September 1983 and later serving as Worthy Patron. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite, York Rite and Cahaba Shrine Temple in Huntsville, AL. He was an active board member for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls assembly as well as the Demolay Chapter in Huntsville, AL.
In 1988, he moved his family to Bowie. He became involved with Bowie Masonic Lodge serving as Worshipful Master. He was selected in 2009 as District Deputy and traveled all over the area teaching masonic principles. He worked tirelessly with the Bowie Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star serving as Worthy Patron for numerous years. He joined the Maskat Shrine Temple in Wichita Falls and the Ft. Worth Scottish Rite Bodies. Lester found a deep passion to help guide and mold the young men of Texas and served as Chapter Dad for the Demolay Chapter in Bowie and John Wayne Chapter in Houston. He continued to work with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Nocona until 1990.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and his first wife, Jerry.
Lester is survived by his current wife of 20 years, Karen (Morris) Davis, Bowie; daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Lynn (Davis) Damon, Carrollton; three bonus children; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren; siblings, Barbara Remi, Ginger Wise, John Ernest Davis; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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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