Shirley A Phillips

Shirley Ann Phillips, age 89, of Cambridge, Nebr., passed away at the CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, Nebr., on Monday, December 3, 2021. She was born near Curtis, Nebr., 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 two years near Curtis.

On April 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, Nebr. 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 head north, 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. Shirley would also host family reunions and 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; two sons, Steven and wife, Julie Phillips of Grand Junction, CO, Jim and wife, Noelle Phillips of Grena, NE; five grandchildren; three 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 is planning a memorial service for a future date in 2022. Friends may leave on-line condolences at lockenourfh.com. Memorials may be left in Shirley’s name at Lockenour-Jones Mortuary. Lockenour-Jones Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.

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