|
Frances M. (Deering) Phillips Downing, age 77, passed away May 30, 2003, in Longview, Texas, after a courageous struggle with Alzheimer's. Visitation will be in Amarillo, Texas, on Thursday, June 5, 2003, 10:00 a.m. to noon at Blackburn Shaw Funeral Home, 5th and Pierce Street. Internment will follow immediately at Memorial Park Cemetery. Frances was born on March 30, 1926, in Panhandle, Texas, to Mary Frances (Whitehead) and Jesse Murrel Deering. She attended Pampa schools, graduating from Pampa High in 1943. She married William B."Dub" Phillips, Jr. in 1945. They moved to Amarillo, where both worked for the Santa Fe and started raising their family of four daughters. Dub passed away suddenly in 1957. In 1973, Frances married Gordon Downing, Head of the Bible Department at West Texas State University. They moved to Albuquerque and Frances later retired from the Santa Fe after 38 years of service. Frances' life revolved around her family, church and business affiliations. She belonged to the West Amarillo Christian Church and San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo, and the Montgomery Blvd. Church of Christ in Albuquerque. She traveled to Hawaii, the Alaskan islands, Europe and the Middle East. She was a lifetime member of the National Association of Railway Business Women and held offices in the local chapter of the National Secretaries Association. Both husbands preceded Frances in death. She is survived by her four daughters, Dorothy Castro of Idaho, Elizabeth Holling of Connecticut, Rebecca"Becky" Whitaker of Denison, Texas and Virginia"Ginger" Phillips-Hipp of California; her sister, Rosemary Anderson of Hallsville, Texas; and many supportive nieces in Longview, Texas. Frances had 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the West Amarillo Christian Church, 3701 Soncy Road, Amarillo, TX, 79119. Condolences may be sent to the home of Dorothy Castro at 997 North 9th St., Payette, ID, 83661.
|
