Frances Phillips

Passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo Michigan on Sunday, April 22, 2018. Frances was greatly loved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed. Frances was born in Jackson, Michigan on June 22, 1925, the daughter of the late Thomas and Margaret Easter. On September 9, 1950, she was united in marriage to Dr. Russell M. Phillips who preceded her in death in 1994. She is survived by her children, Mark (Dina) Phillips of Brunswick Maine, Jill (Al) Phillips-Gould of Tawas Michigan, Lynn (Mark) Griggs of Kalamazoo Michigan, Steve Phillips of Mankato Minnesota, and Sarah Phillips of Flushing Michigan; 12 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; sister, Carol (Tom) Gibson; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Easter; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Gaylen Easter and granddaughter, Casey Phillips. Frances graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Social Work. She worked for several years before starting a family, returning to work as an administrator for the Department of Social Services in Flint Michigan when her children were in school. Frances retired from the DSS in 1991. Frances lived most of her life in Flushing Michigan before moving to Kalamazoo in 2016. She had a giving heart, not only devoted to her family but to the community at large. She was a Girl Scout leader during her parenting years; she represented the city of Flushing alongside her husband, Russell, a member of the Flushing City Council for 29 years and mayor for 12 years; she was the long-time member (and Treasurer) of Friends of the Flushing Area Library and the Flushing Area Historical Society; she was a volunteer for the McLaren (Flint) Hospital Auxiliary, racking up 14,000 hours of service during which she served in leadership roles (board member, VP, President, counselor) all the while putting her life-long knitting and sewing skills to good use making baby hats, puppets, heart pillows, mastectomy pillows, and other comfort items. Frances branched out beyond the McLaren Auxiliary for several years, serving as VP and President for the Michigan Association of Hospital Auxiliaries (East Central District). She also volunteered for the Flint & Genesee Convention and Visitors Bureau (Flint Sparks) welcoming visitors to the community. In accordance with Frances' wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Flushing United Methodist Church. Interment will immediately follow at Flushing City Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the church. The family would like to thank the in-home team from Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and the staff at Rose Arbor for their invaluable and loving care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Flushing Area Library, Flushing Area Historical Society, or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.