James R. Phillips, Sr., 81, passed away in Temple, Texas on Monday, June 10, 2013. James was born in Smackover, Arkansas on July 9, 1931 to Laron Fuller and Ora Lee (Finch) Phillips, Sr. He received his high school honors from Odessa Permian and attended Paris Junior College. On June 9, 1953 he married Faye Moore. He served his country proudly in the United States Army in the Korean War from 1950 until 1954. They lived in Alexandria, Virginia, Paris, Texas, Palmer, Texas and then to Waxahachie, Texas in 2009. He worked for DallasAirmotive for thirty seven years until his retirement in 1997, he also worked as a truck driver for Ellis County and for seven years with WalMart in the assembly department, the garden department and as a greeter. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Palmer where he served as a deacon, the Lions Club and was a volunteer for the Palmer Fire Department. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and reading westerns, military and detective books. He is survived by his wife, Faye Phillips of Waxahachie: four sons: James R. Phillips, Jr. of Waxahachie, Ken Phillips and his wife, Linda of Garrett, Keith DeWayne Phillips and his wife, Donna of Waxahachie and Timothy W. Phillips of Plano; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother and two sisters. Visitation will be Thursday, June 13, 2013 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the J.E. Keever Mortuary of Palmer. A Celebration of his life will take place on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 2 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of Palmer with Rev. Bill Morgan officiating. Interment will follow in Palmer Cemetery under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc. www.jekeevermortuary.com
