Gerald 'Jerry' Phillips

Funeral Services for Mr. Gerald “Jerry” Phillips, 85, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma will be held on Friday, July 15th, 2016 at 10:00 a. m. at the First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Michael Dye officiating, assisted by Rev. Richard Sowder. Interment will be in the Magnolia Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Bristow, Oklahoma, later the same day. Gerald “Jerry” Phillips was born June 1, 1931, in Compton, California, to John and Ada Lemon Phillips. He was one of six children. He went to be with his Lord on July 8, 2016 in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Jerry spent his early years in southern California. His family moved to OK when he was 15. He attended school in Alex, Oklahoma, and graduated from Rush Springs High School, where he was a star football player for the Rush Springs Melon Heavers. He attended college at Oklahoma Baptist University, married, and moved back to California. His two sons were both born in California. While in California, Jerry worked at Douglas Aircraft as a riveter. He also was active in Campus Crusade for Christ. He became a licensed building contractor in California, and built many homes and other buildings. Jerry returned to Oklahoma in 1949 and lived in Bethany, where he was a realtor and a builder. During this time, he was hired by the Atomic Energy Commission to go to Enewetak in the Marshall Islands shortly after the atomic bomb tests at the Bikini Atoll. He was a construction foreman there and built testing spots. In 1982, Jerry married Carolyn Kienholz. He developed a research company involving minerals and metals. He and Carolyn moved to Tishomingo in 1997 to pursue his research, ultimately having business sites in Milburn and Emet. Jerry was instrumental in the Community Image Committee of the Tishomingo Development Team. The removal of 52 extraneous poles in a five-block area of Main Street in downtown Tishomingo helping spark Tishomingo’s improvement process. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers – Weldon, Winston, and Gary Phillips; sisters Johnnie Mae Broersma and Frankie Dell Kill; his son Steven Phillips; and one granddaughter Holly Phillips. He is survived by his wife Carolyn of the home; a step-daughter Kimberly Mayfield, husband Philip, and children Samantha and Jack of Windermere, FL; his son Roger Phillips, wife Yoko, and children Anika, Dylan, and Skyler of Newport, CA; daughter-in-law Connie Phillips of Moore, OK; and granddaughters Anissa Hope, husband Aaron, and son Luke, of Fallon, NV, and Darcy Stewart and husband Bill of New York. Jerry had a heart for the nation of Israel and compassion for the Jewish people. Donations may be sent in Jerry’s name to the Jerusalem Prayer Team.

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Gerald 'Jerry' Phillips

June 1, 1931 - July 8, 2016