OBITUARIES
Nelda Marie Maxwell Riddle
February 5, 1938 – March 20, 2026
BOWIE – Nelda Marie Maxwell Riddle, 88, passed away after a brief illness on March 20, 2026 in Little Rock, AR.
Nelda was born on Feb. 5, 1938 in Vernon, TX to John Gray and Edith Jewel (Bibb) Maxwell. She grew up in Bellevue, and after high school, she began a secretarial career with civil service for the United States Air Force (Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls and Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany); Fishbach & Moore in Dallas and Houston, and ended her career working for the United States Postal Service in Italy, TX. She received numerous awards and commendations during her career.
Nelda loved her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Wanda Jean Nored Pipkin, Glenda Kay Johnson and Vanita Myrtle Thomas; brother, Stanley Wayne Maxwell; brothers-in-law, Andy Lee Nored, William “Gayle” Johnson and Weldon Leon Pipkin; and stepson, Clint Riddle.
Nelda is survived by her daughters, Teresa Pendleton Powers and her husband John, Little Rock, AR, and Lori Diane Pendleton, Bowie; her dearly loved grandson, Alec Owen Grisham, Cabot, AR; brother-in-law, Melvin Thomas, Flower Mound; sister-in-law, Louise Maxwell Carlisle, Vashti; daughter-in-law, Brenda Riddle Stevenson and family, Kemp, TX; stepson and daughter-in-law, Curtis Riddle and Michelle Riddle and family, Italy, TX; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Carrie and Jonathan Normand and family, Stephenville; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Nelda would also want to remember her special friend Jonn White, Bowie, who brought a lot of happiness to her life the past several years through their almost daily messages. She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Bowie.
If you would like to make a donation in her memory, please consider doing so to your favorite animal shelter or any organization that helps animals.
Paid publication
Smith Little Rock Funeral Home
www.smithfamilycares.com/smith-little-rock
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