SHIRLEY A. PHILLIPS
Shirley Ann Phillips age 89 of Cambridge, NE passed away at the CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, NE on December 3, 2021. She was born near Curtis, NE on August 7, 1932, to Donald and Violetta (Petersen) Wood. She attended high School at UNSA in Curtis graduating in 1950. She attended Kearney State Teachers College and attained a Certificate of Normal Training. Shirley taught country school for 2 years near Curtis.
On April 20, 20, 1952, Shirley was united in marriage to Preston Phillips at the United Methodist Church in Curtis. To this union four children were born: Marty, Steven, Becky Sue and Jim.
Shirley was employed at the Bellamy John Deer dealership in Arapahoe. Shirley was Baptized and Confirmed in the Methodist Church of Orafino. She taught Sunday School in the Evangelical/United Methodist Church. Shirley was instrumental in organizing baseball and softball teams. Shriley loved to fish. She ran set lines in the creek behind the farm daily with the kids and spent many Sundays on the Medicine Creek fishing. After retirement she and Preston purchased a camper and would go to Canada for the past 18 years near Saskatchewan, on the Churchill River. They would leave close to the time that the ice melted and return home late fall. Shirley was always trying to catch the illusive “Elsie” the big Northern pike. The last several years they were camp hosts and would fly into the resort. She would have a family reunion and host the Annual Phillips family catfish tourney.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter: Becky Sue; her parents: Donald and Violetta.
Shirley is survived by her husband: of 69 years: Preston of Cambridge; daughter: Marty and husband Dennis Petersen of Cambridge; 2 sons: Steven and wife Julie Phillips of Grand Junction, CO; Jim and wife Noelle Phillips of Grena, NE; 5 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; sister: Sharon and husband Royal Van Horn of Jacksonville, FL; brother: Wayne and wife Maryann Wood of Overland Park, KS.
The family chose cremation and will plan a memorial service at a future date in 2022. Friends may leave on-line condolences at lockenourfh.com. Memorials may be left in Shirley’s name at the Lockenour-Jones Mortuary. Lockenour Jones Mortuary entrusted with arrangements.
