William (Bill) Brewer Phillips Jr.'s Obituary
William “Bill” Brewer Phillips Jr passed away at Methodist Hospital (Germantown, TN) on May 26, 2023, at the age of 92. Bill was born on Sept 1, 1930, in Danville, AR to Wave Page & William Brewer Phillips Sr.
Bill attended Dumas High School (Dumas, AR) where he was active in sports & the 4-H Club. In 1948, he attended Hendrix College where he participated in football, wrestling, baseball & track in addition to membership in Agronomy & Animal Husbandry Clubs.
He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1953 with a B.S. and M.S. degree in general agriculture. That same year he married Juanna Jackson of Etowah, AR and settled back on the family farm in Dumas, AR where they opened a farm supply & feed business in addition to farming and having 3 children (Keith, Paul & Karen). During this time, he also served in the National Guard as a Master Sergeant.
In 1963, Bill accepted a sales position with Elanco Products Co. which led him & his family to move to Jacksonville, FL, Indianapolis, IN and Peoria, IL before ultimately settling in Memphis, TN. Bill retired from Elanco in 1990 after 27 years with the company devoting his time to operating a Floral & Gift shop, membership in the Memphis East Rotary Club where he is a past President and led a delegation to the Philippines, 53 years of membership in Emmanuel United Methodist Church where he is a past board member, participated in fund raising activities and taught an adult bible class. Bill was also a 70-year member of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite for the Valley of Little Rock where he recently received the honorary 33 degree.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, brother John Paul Phillips (Lake Tahoe, CA), daughter-in-law Robin Roethke Phillips and grandchildren Thomas Justin and Rachel Lauren Phillips (Folsom, CA).
He is survived by his wife of 69 years Juanna, sons Keith (Brenda) of Fredericksburg, TX and Paul (Linda) of Carmel, CA, daughter Karen (Bill) Farmer of Memphis, TN; Grandsons Stephen (Danielle) of Orcutt, CA and Ryan (Sandra) of St Louis, MO; Granddaughters Ashlee (David) Laiche of Houma, LA and Madison (Chris) Hoal of Nashville, TN; Great Grandchildren John Brewer, Emerson & Finley Laiche of Houma, LA and Ryder Kim Phillips of St Louis, MO.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 31 at 1:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery.
The memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m. at Emmanuel United Methodist Church with a reception following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorial donations may be made to Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 2404 Kirby RD, Memphis, TN, 38119. or to the charity of one’s choice.
Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, 38119. (901) 767-8930.
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