Lillie Mae Phillips

Funeral services for Lillie Mae Hammons-Phillips will be held on Wednesday, August 12th, 2015 at 10:00 AM at the Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Allen Nevel and Reverend Frank Phillips officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 11th, 2015 at Reed-Culver from noon until 6:00 PM. Interment will be held at Cochran Cemetery. Pallbearers for Lillie include Richard Phillips, Aaron Hair, Perry Phillips Jr., Devin Lopez, Carl Phillips and Justin Phillips.

Lillie Mae Hammons-Phillips was born on March 9th, 1926 in Hulbert, OK, the daughter of John Henry and Judy Susie (Cochran) Hammons. She was raised in a home where she shared her life with three brothers and one sister, John, William, Clue, and Hattie. She graduated from Chilocco Indian School then continued her education, and graduated as a LPN. She married Arnold Phillips and together they shared the love of seven children. Lillie worked at numerous hospitals and nursing facilities during her career, and she proved that she could be strong and independent as well as caring and compassionate. Her entire lifetime was spent in the Hulbert and Tahlequah Community. She loved to go fishing. Garage sales were another favorite pastime. She really enjoyed a good OU football game or the afternoon spent quilting. Lillie was incredibly proud of her Cherokee heritage and spent countless hours involved in Cherokee Nation Politics, attending fundraisers, going door to door and campaigning for a worthy cause. Lillie was laid back and easy going. She had the sweetest smile on her face as that LTD station wagon went down the street, stuffed to the brim with her adored grandchildren. Lillie thought they were the absolute best companions ever. She instilled in her children a sense of self reliance and a willingness to serve others. Lillie was a Christian by faith and attended a variety of Baptist Churches. The Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her labors on Sunday, August 9th in Tahlequah, with her family close by her side. Lillie was 89 years old.

Lillie is preceded in death by her mother, father, two sons, Pat Phillips and Pershal Phillips, one daughter, Judy Leep, three brothers, John M. Hammons, William Hammons, Clue Hammons, and one sister, Hattie Massingale.

Those left to cherish her memory include her adored children, Perry Phillips and wife Linda, Kevin Phillips, John Phillips; one daughter, Paulette Wilson and husband Robert, all of Tahlequah, OK, one daughter-in-law, Vicki Phillips of Seminole, TX and two sister-in-laws, Loretta Hammons of Broken Arrow, OK and Myrna Hammons of Tahlequah, OK. The legacy of Lillie’s life ends with 29 grandchildren, 63 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren, her special friends Chad Smith, Pat Ragsdale, Sharon Wright, and Bobby Davis as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.