Kathryn "Katie" Phillips

Dec 6, 1928 -

Mar 26, 2021

After a long and hard-fought battle, due to injuries from a car accident, Kathryn "Katie" Phillips left this earth on March 26, 2021, surrounded by her family. She is now at peace amongst several of her family members and will look down upon and guide us for eternity.

Katie's story began on Dec. 6, 1928, in Bushnell, Ill., the one and only daughter of Lewis and Ruth Jones. On June 5, 1947, she married Jack Ray Phillips in Cheyenne, Wyo. Their first child, J. Alan "Butch" was born in 1948; their second child, Jackie, was born in 1952.

In 1953, a leap of faith was taken, and they moved to Alaska. A fine cabin was waiting for her in Birchwood, a small community outside of Anchorage, Alaska. Katie was very involved in her small community. She was a dancer in the Chugiak Belles, a group that performed the Can Can, Charleston and several other dances at local events. Katie was a member of the Chugiak Ladies Club, Chugiak Historical Society and Eagle River VFW Auxiliary. She was an avid bowler, and very involved with her church, St. Andrews in Eagle River, Alaska.

Katie and Jack went on to have three more daughters: Sarah in 1957, and much to their surprise, twins in 1961, Cathy and Colleen.

In 1967, she began working at the new Chugiak High School, continuing her career with the school until she retired in 1989. She was loved by all, staff and students alike, and was lovingly called "Ma Phillips" by many. After retirement, she enjoyed being involved in her children's and grandchildren's lives. She was "Grandma Katie" to many.

The most important thing in Katie's life was her family, nothing else mattered. Not only her immediate family, but anyone else that needed her attention. You could say that her family was the entire community. She was one tough, amazing woman living her life on her own terms, and it is guaranteed she is currently dancing in heaven with her husband and son.

Katie was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Ray Phillips; parents, Lewis and Ruth Jones; son, Butch Phillips; three grandsons, Jason Boroughs, Jared Wiggers and James Boroughs; and great-grandson, Codi Jolin. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Jackie and Gene Letts of Anchorage, Sarah and Dan Wiggers of Eagle River, Cathy and David Bohna of Maricopa, Ariz., and Colleen and Jerry Hodson of Cody, Wyo.; as well as 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Eagle River in July. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital, Covenant House or St. Andrews Catholic Church in Eagle River.