She was born May 30, 1934, in Baxter Springs, KS, the daughter of Blonville Mason and Mae Marie (Watson) Fithian.
Evelyn was active in high school activities. She was a cheerleader, and drum majorette, performed in many high school plays for Baxter Springs High School and graduated in 1952. Evelyn was crowned homecoming queen her senior year and was escorted by her high school sweetheart, Richard H. Phillips Jr. Evelyn and Richard were married on July 3, 1953, in Baxter Springs. This union lasted for 62 years until Richard passed in 2016.
Evelyn was a secretary for many years and worked for various companies. She retired in 1997 to be a full-time nana, her favorite job. She was an active part of all of her church families. While Richard led the music, she played the piano at Trinity Baptist Church in Shawnee for ten years. In addition, Evelyn sang in the choir and taught multiple classes at First Southern Baptist Church of Overland Park.
Evelyn was an avid reader, loved shopping, and eating out. She and Richard traveled to many destinations over their 62 years of marriage. Evelyn was a member of the local D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution). She enjoyed watching the Kansas City Chiefs play.
Evelyn joins Richard, her parents, her sisters, brothers-in-law, and other loved ones in heaven, where we are sure there was a joyous and loud reunion.
Evelyn is survived by her two sons, Kevin Phillips and wife, Geri, of Broken Arrow, OK, and Keith Phillips and wife, Debora, of Shawnee, KS; a daughter, Melissa Snell, and husband, Joe, of Independence, MO; six grandchildren, Shannon Huntley (Glen), Breanna James (Danny), Devin Phillips (Bailey), Ian Phillips, Cody Phillips, Macey Snell (Brian Harley); and eight great-grandchildren, Macy James, Jackson Ashmore, Elizabith Phillips, Shelby James, Xander Huntley, Sam James, Emery Phillips, and Carly James.
A visitation for Evelyn will be from 12pm-1pm with a funeral service following at 1pm on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 N. 94th St., Kansas City Kansas. A graveside service will be immediately following at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, 23215 W. 75th St., Shawnee, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Literacy KC, 3036 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri 64109 or literacykc.org.
Pallbearers will be Devin, Ian and Cody Phillips, Joe Snell, Glen Huntley, Danny James, and Brian Harley. Honorary pallbearers will be Jackson Ashmore, Xander Huntley, and Sam James.
