Effie Phillips

Effie E. Phillips, 83, passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2009 after a brief illness, in Durham Regional Hospital, Durham, N.C. She was preceded in death by her husband, Morton M. Phillips, originally of Coffeyville, KS. Effie was born on September 10, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Loretta and Walter Evans. She attended high school in New Orleans and went to college for one semester at Louisiana State University. She had interesting jobs as a young adult, including working as a secretary with Arthur Davis, the architect whose firm eventually designed the Super Dome in New Orleans. She married Morton in 1958, and moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where she was a wonderful homemaker and mom to her daughter, Jodie. During her Jackson years, Effie was very active in Temple Beth Israel and the Sisterhood in Jackson. She served as president of the Sisterhood there, and as a representative to the National Federal of Temple Sisterhoods. She was instrumental in organizing the Temple Bazaar, Sisterhoods main fundraiser for many years. She was also active in auxiliary organization of the petroleum exploration community in Jackson, as Morton was a petroleum geologist. Effie developed and maintained many dear friends in the Jackson oil community. She made an honorary member of the Associates Having Oil Leasing Experience Society following Mortons death. Effie also spent a good bit of time in Coffeyville. For many years she and Morton split their time about evenly between Coffeyville and Jackson, which allowed her to develop many friendships there, as well as spend many wonderful times with the Phillips family. She lived the last three years of her life in Durham, N.C., with her daughter and son-in-law, Jodie and Andrew Robinson. Effie built a beautiful addition onto Jodie and Andrews house, and thoroughly enjoyed living in it and showing it off to friends and family. Effie was known for her gregarious nature. She made friends wherever she went, of all ages. She leaves many dear friends in all of the places she lived. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Loretta Evans, by her two sisters Ione and Yvonne, and her husband Morton Phillips. She was survived by her daughter Jodie Robinson, and her husband Andrew. She was also survived by nephews Brother Neal Golden and Rolland Golden and by Rollands wife Stella and their family. She also leaves brother-in-law Leland Phillips, his wife Vicki, and their family, and by brother-in-law Larry Phillips, his wife Carol and their family, all of Coffeyville, KS. She remained a beautiful woman to the end of her life. She was charming, young in heart and mind, and never lost her love of good times with friends and family, traveling, and learning and experiencing new things. She had a wonderful sense of humor, which served her well in good times and bad. She will be greatly missed. Services will be held Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in Coffeyville. Rabbi Charles Sherman will officiate. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabels Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call today from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. to sign the guest register. If desired, the family has suggested contribution to the National D-Day Museum, New Orleans, LA; Temple Beth Israel, Jackson, MS; or the American Heart Association. Contributions may be left with the funeral home.