OBITUARIES
Helen Ellzey
August 28, 1929 – April 6, 2026
NOCONA – Helen Ellzey, 96, passed away on April 6, 2026 in Nocona, TX.
The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on April 9 at Forestburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gregg Parr officiating. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. at the church, prior to the service. A burial will follow at Perryman Cemetery.
Helen Marie Cook was born in Forestburg on Aug. 28, 1929 to Odus and Vashti Wilson Cook. She graduated from Forestburg High School. She married Dixie Lee “Dick” Ellzey on May 28, 1945. Dick joined the U.S. Marines and after basic training the two of them lived at Camp Le Jeune, NC. In 1946, they returned to Forestburg and started their family. They lived in Odessa and Snyder for a few years where Dick worked in the oil field. They returned to Forestburg with their growing family. Dick ran a service station business and Helen helped him there until she started attending college at Cook County Junior College in 1959.
In 1960, they moved to DeQuincy, LA. Dick taught mechanics at Sowela Tech and Helen continued her education at McNeese State College. She received her bachelor of art in elementary education in 1963 and began her teaching career. She taught in elementary schools in DeQuincy and in Lake Charles. She continued her education and earned a masters degree and education specialist certification.
She retired in 1987 at the time she and Dick moved back to their hometown of Forestburg. They bought country property, built a home there and enjoyed raising cattle and growing large gardens. Helen went back to teaching at Forestburg ISD and taught sixth grade for five years.
Helen was a wonderful cook and enjoyed feeding and caring for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She and Dick participated in many community and church activities in their hometown.
After Dick’s death in 2012, Helen continued living on her farm and spending time with her family.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Dick; parents Odus and Vashti Cook; sister, Ouilda Cook Jones; brother, H.D. Cook; daughter, Stephannie Huck; son-in-law, Jim Lemoine; grandson, Ben Davison; great-granddaughter, Allie Elizabeth Hebert and great-grandsons Sam Davison and Duke Goyne.
Helen is survived by three children, Sonja Davison, Shelia Lemoine and Eric Ellzey; 10 grandchildren Zack Davison (wife Christine), Stephan Goyne (wife Lindsay), Eric Lemoine (wife Alex), Brad Lemoine (wife Jill), Tim Davison (wife Jessica), Courtney Hebert (husband Robby), Abby Lemoine (husband David Bueno), Ellen Ellzey, Alex Huck (wife Carly), Evan Ellzey (wife Libby); 17 great grandchildren Ember and Joseph Davison; Iris, Edward, and Helen Kawas; Tab, Jude, and Farrah Hebert; June Lemoine; Odus and Bo Goyne; Gunner, Scotty, and Brandon Mushaney; Sarah and Emmeline Ellzey; Harper Huck; several nieces; nephews and cousins.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Grace Care Center of Nocona for the loving care they showed our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Donations to Perryman Cemetery Fund would be greatly appreciated.
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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