Mary Ellen Phillips

July 7, 1936 - November 11, 2021

Mary Ellen (Cokley) Phillips, 85, peacefully passed away in the early morning hours of November 11, 2021, with her son at her side. She lived at the Primrose Retirement Community, Newburgh, IN. She was born on July 7, 1936 in Evansville, IN to the late Joy and Cora Cokley. Mary Ellen was a 1954 graduate of Central High School. Mary Ellen was a devoted wife and homemaker, a loving and caring mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She married her high school sweetheart Jack O. Phillip, Sr. on July 18, 1953. She enjoyed working with her husband. He made wooden furniture, she finished as well as painted much of the furniture. She also enjoyed refinishing and reselling antique furniture. She was an artist whose paintings are well known for their bright colors and realistic look. She taught painting to many of our local children and enjoyed hearing from them about their life adventures once they became adults. She had a love of dogs, reading and writing poetry, Shakespeare, and entertaining family and friends. Her door was always open. She enjoyed meeting new people, sharing stories, as well as telling jokes and making people laugh. Mary Ellen is survived by her son, Jack (Felicia) O. Phillips, Jr., Kimberly (Matthew) Baugh, Rachel (Carl) Jarvis, Grandchildren Jack O. Phillips III, Jerry (Jenny) Phillips, and Akemi Baugh. Great grandchildren, Lilly, Isabella, Charlotte and Elliot Phillips, and Grace Wilson, brother, Joy Cokley, Jr., sister, Evelyn Lucas, brother-in-laws, Bobby and Steve Phillips, as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Jack O. Phillips and her siblings, Lawrence and Delbert Cokley. Sister-in-laws, Madeline and Crystal Phillips, and brother-in-law Jesse Lucas. A gathering will be held Tuesday, November 16, 2021, from 1-2 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 1811 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47714 with a celebration of life service immediately following at 2 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Holt International Adoption and Child Sponsorship @HoltInternational.org. Special thank you to long time friends Cynthia Vowels, Bill and Carol Evans, a special loving niece, Jill Hall and care giver Crystal McIntosh, Primrose Retirement Community Staff and Adaptive Hospice. Condolences may be made online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com