Mrs. Mary Jo Phillips

Mary Josephine Bass Phillips, 92, a resident of Tyler and Fort Worth, Texas, passed away Saturday, November 19th. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, November 22, at Rose Hill Cemetery, in Tyler, under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mary Jo was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1923, in Alba, Texas, to Benjamin Clayton and Ariadne Farrington Bass. She graduated from John Tyler High School and attended the University of Texas at Austin. Mary Jo was a long-time, active member of Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler, Texas. She served the church as President of United Methodist Women, on the Administrative Board, Council on Ministries, Food Service, Senior Adult Council, Sunday School teacher, Grown-ups, and as a member of the Friendly Bible Class. Several years ago, she was honored by her church for her many years of devoted service. She was a 50 year member and past president of P.E.O., and was an active citizen of the town she loved, Tyler, Texas. For more than seven decades, she supported the community through volunteer work in a number of civic organizations, including the Rose Festival, the Symphony League, the Garden Club, the Food Bank, and many school-related organizations as her boys grew up. Mrs. Phillips loved to travel with her husband and sons, including several African safaris. Mary Jo will be remembered as a loving wife and mother and loyal friend, and most importantly, as a daughter of God. The characteristics of love found in I Corinthians that love is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial, and sincere, all describe Mary Jo’s personality and daily life. She spent a lifetime planting seeds for the fruits of love in her family and all those fortunate enough to be in her presence. Through her sweet and loving spirit and abiding faith, Mary Jo knew that it is not what happens to you that’s important, but how you handle the situation as a testament to Christ’s love. Though her body was weakened by disease in the last years, Mary Jo lived life to the fullest, and always took comfort and strength from her faith in Jesus. She will now join her dear and loving family who preceded her in death, including her parents, her sister, Sarah, and brother, Ben C., and her husband of 53 years, Robert James Phillips, Sr. Survivors include her two loving sons, Andrew B. Phillips and his wife, Margaret, of Port Aransas, Texas, and R. J. Phillips, Jr., and his wife, Nancy, of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Katie Harrison and her husband, Conor, of Dallas, Texas, Andrew B. Phillips, Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, of College Station, Texas, and granddaughter, Dr. Mary Ashton Phillips Benesh and her husband Dr. Andrew Benesh, of Houston, Texas; and 5 great grandchildren, Marley and Boone Harrison, Drew, Charlotte, and Will Phillips, as well as loved nieces, Brenda Franklin and Kay Carlisle, and nephew Bob Bogan, in addition to many other cherished nephews.

Mrs. Mary Jo Phillips

November 29, 1923 - November 19, 2016