Doris Eileen Phillips

Doris "Dee" Eileen Wallace Phillips passed away peacefully after a brief illness on May 21st, 2009. Doris was born Jan. 12th, 1930, the only daughter of Clarence and Violet Wallace of Wichita, Kansas. She grew up in Wichita and graduated from Wichita North High School with honors, serving as class leader and yearbook editor. She attended modeling schools in Wichita and Dallas, and by age 19 was working full time as a fashion model for Neiman Marcus in Dallas. On April 1st, 1949, Doris married Army Air Corp pilot 1st Lt. Carthon Paris Phillips in the chapel at Offutt Air Base, concluding a whirlwind courtship begun the previous October. Military tours took Doris and Carthon from a beachfront apartment in Biloxi, MS, to Newfoundland, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Memphis, TN, Savanna, GA, and finally to retirement in Austin, Texas, where they lived for over forty years. Doris began to study watercolor and oil painting more intensively after their first home in Austin was built. She studied at Wichita University, Armstrong University, Saint Edward's University, and Louisiana Tech. In 1981, Dee & Phil built their present house in Westlake Highlands. Dee used her interior and landscape design talents to make it a vibrant and distinctive home. She eventually devoted herself to watercolor media exclusively, and was a signature member of the Southwestern & Texas Watercolor Societies, the San Antonio & Waterloo Watercolor Groups, and the Southern Watercolor & Capitol Art Societies. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Central Texas including 2003 Official Artist of the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Her artwork has been featured twice on the cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, a Christmas card design in the Northlight Book Club journal, and on the label of Messina Hof wineries 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon. Her patrons include the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Austin Stouffer Renaissance Hotel, the University of Texas, and St. Edward's University. Doris is survived by her husband of sixty years, Lt. Col. C.P. "Phil" Phillips USAF (Ret.), her two sons Tracy and Todd, grandson Nicholas, a stepdaughter Mary, and two brothers Richard and Royce Wallace. A public memorial service will be held Friday, May 29, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home 3125 North Lamar, Austin, Texas, 78705. For more information visit www.wcfish.com or www.deephillips.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the American Heart Association or a charity of the donor's choice.