Joelyn Elizabeth Phillips' Obituary
Joelyn Elizabeth Phillips went to be with our Lord and Savior on June 11, 2025, lovingly surrounded by her family. Joelyn was born on February 24, 1935 in Mangum, Oklahoma to Joe and Louise Andress. She was the eldest of three children with a brother, Don, and a sister, Francille. She spent her childhood in the Borger, Texas area where she attended school and also where she gave her life to Jesus. While in high school, she met the love of her life, Tommy Jack Phillips. The two married on June 5, 1953, one week after her graduation from high school, and began their 68 year marriage together before Tommy passed in 2021.
Joelyn and Tommy lived a full and adventurous life, making homes in Pampa and Perryton, Texas, Casper, Wyoming, Lakewood, Colorado, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and finally settling in Longview to be close to family. Wherever they went they made lifelong friendships that carried them through the years, and were always faithful in serving Christ. Joelyn was passionate about Bible studies, especially Precept Ministries and loved to teach God’s Word. Her deep knowledge of the Word brought comfort to her in hard times but also to so many that she ministered to. Her faith and family brought her deep joy and purpose. She and Tommy raised their two children to know and love the Lord and that has passed down to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. To know Joelyn was to know kindness, compassion, and quiet strength. She faced life’s challenges with grace and determination and offered steady love and encouragement to those around her. She will be deeply missed and joyfully remembered by all who had the blessing of knowing her.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tommy, and by her parents, Joe and Louise Andress. She is survived by her son, Jack , and his wife Julie, of Casper, Wyoming, and her daughter, Karen Roe, and her husband, Lance, of Longview. She is also lovingly remembered by her grandchildren, Autumn Phillips, Gabriel Phillips, Loren Roe (Betsy), Bryan Roe (Angela), and Colin Roe (Ashton). Her legacy continues through her great-grandchildren as well – Myah Phillips and Norah, Elliott, Henry, Camilla, Landry and JP Roe. She is also survived by her brother, Don Andress and his wife Delma of Houston, and her sister, Francille Mahan, of Deer Park, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the loving staff at Buckner Assisted Living who gave tender-loving care the last year and a half and also the nurses/staff at HeartsWay Hospice who provided much needed support and special attention in her final days. All of these special people truly exemplified a servant’s heart in all that they did for our mom. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
A memorial service for Joelyn will be held Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11 am at Rader Funeral Home with visitation immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a donation to the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, or to the Benevolence Ministry at Mobberly Baptists Church.
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