Mary Catherine (Parks) Phillips

Mary Catherine Parks Phillips, age 85, of Muskogee, OK, went home to be with the Lord on September 23, 2016 at home. She was born October 31, 1930 in Hoyt, OK to Williams Newton Parks and Fannie Elizabeth Taylor Parks. She was raised in Hoyt and attended Hoyt and Stigler schools. She graduated in 1948, went on to attend Muskogee General Nursing School, worked in the OB ward of the Muskogee General Hospital for a year, then went on to work at the VA Hospital where she was an RN for 31 years, retiring in 1985. While working there, she met and married her loving and caring husband, Sherman in 1960. Together they had three sons, losing one not long after birth. Mary Catherine loved to travel, visiting relatives and friends and sight-seeing from coast to coast. She enjoyed the wide world of sports, bowling, fishing, camping, playing co-ed softball, watching basketball, football, car races, and figure skating on tv. She had a passion for sewing and making quilts. She especially enjoyed watching her two sons and five grandchildren by attending all of their ball games and activities. She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church for approximately 40 years, where she was an active member in her Chariot class. She loved to read her Bible and study her lessons. She loved her church family. Mary Catherine spent her retired years caring for and helping other family members and friends. Mary and Sherman were married for nearly 56 years.

Mary Catherine was preceded in death by her son, Gary Don Phillips; parents, Williams Newton Parks and Fannie Elizabeth "Taylor" Parks; seven brothers, an infant boy, Wallace, Ernest, Jack, Max, Jeff, Charles; four sisters, Ethelyn, Ruby, Maggie, and Baby Lavinia. Mary Catherine is survived by her husband, Sherman Phillips, of the home; two sons, Roger Phillips and wife Paula and Allen Phillips and wife Melody; five grandchildren, Rory Madison Phillips, Jaxon and Mikey Phillips, Alexus and Miranda Blosch; one sister, Bernice Oldham and Bakersfield, CA; a host of nieces and nephews and friends. She is also survived by one special friend and neighbor of over 56 years, Rita Tidwell.

A funeral service celebrating the life of Mary Catherine Phillips will be held at 1:00 pm, Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at the Bradley Belltower Chapel with Brother Bobby Morgan officiating. Burial will follow at Hoyt Cemetery, next to her baby Gary Don with Darrell Parks, Matt Simpson, Jimmy Pierce, Doug Tidwell, Dale Carnell, Keith Perceful serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Lloyd Webster, Bill Lowry, Barney Moses, and Ernie Parks.

The family has entrusted Bradley Family Funeral Service with the arrangements. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bradleyfuneralservice.com

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