Shirley Jean Phillipus

Shirley Jean Partin Phillipus was born December 14, 1935 on a farm near Cushing in East Texas. She frequently shared that she had moved more times than she wanted during her youth, but her family finally made their way to Houston. She graduated from Pasadena High School in 1954 where she was active in the FHA and Study Club. Her graduation yearbook shows her philosophy as: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

She met Leo Phillipus in early 1953 on a blind date. They were married at Sunset Methodist Church in Pasadena on July 29, 1955. They resided in Pasadena until they moved into a new house in the then remote area of Aldine in 1965. She remained in that home for the remainder of her life.

Over her working career, she was employed by Southwestern Bell, Stewart Title and J. M. Frost, a private family business, until she decided to stay at home to care for her children. In 1974, she took continuing education classes at North Harris County Community College for flower design and ran a small independent flower business for a number of years.

She was a member of Oak Forest Chapter #1080, Order of the Eastern Star and was a Past President of St. John DeMolay Mothers Club. She was a member of Sunset, Durkee and Airline United Methodist Churches. While at Durkee United Methodist, she cared for the Children’s Nursery. After her children graduated, she was an active member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. While not pursued, she was eligible for membership in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas through her great great grandfather, Rev. William Redwine Carnes.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer Dee and Jewel Partin. Shirley was a devoted wife and is survived by her husband of 61 years, Leo Phillipus. Shirley was also a loving mom and grandmother and is survived by her pride and joy, two sons, one daughter, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren: Michael and his wife Donna Phillipus, and their children, Jennifer Warren; Tiffany and her husband Brian Waggoner, and their son, Elliott; Mark Phillipus; Michele Phillipus, and her children, Matthew Sundean and Megan and her husband Brad Wright, and their children Ethan and Isabel.

Shirley entered into eternal rest surrounded by her family on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Houston Northwest Medical Center aged 81 years and 20 days.