Lou Ellen Phillips
1930-2013
Lou Ellen Phillips, 82, of Edmond, went to be with the Lord on January 6, 2013, after a short battle with pneumonia. She was born April 8, 1930 to Floyd and Flossie Manker in Monette, Arkansas. At the age of 13 her family moved to Visalia, California. She married Arthur Phillips on January 6, 1956 and remained a "California girl" until they relocated with their two children to Long Beach, Mississippi; Waco, Texas; and finally, Edmond, Oklahoma in 1973. Lou's top priority as a young mother was to be with her children. Her Christian example and excellence in all she did left a legacy for all who knew her. She enjoyed working as both a medical and church secretary.
Her involvement with Christian education started as a student at Harding College working in the president's office and continued with the president's office at Oklahoma Christian University from 1975 to 2013. Lou served under five different presidents, first as Executive Secretary to the President and later as Special Assistant to the President. She was an inspiration and mentor to many of the younger workers on campus. She was a great ambassador for the university, often introducing herself, "I'm Lou Phillips, with Oklahoma Christian."
Lou was known for her warmth, hospitality, and willingness to go the extra mile. She never said, "That's not my job." If she didn't know an answer, she would find out. While working at Oklahoma Christian, Lou was the honoree of the Spring Dinner in 1995 and was named Honorary Alumnus in 2000. One of her greatest honors was serving as Official Hostess for President George H. W. Bush's visit to campus in 1992. Lou was a founding member of the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge and also belonged to Oklahoma City Republican Women's Club, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Oklahoma Christian Women's Association, and was a faithful member of the Memorial Road Church of Christ and the 39ers Bible class.
She was preceded in death by her father Floyd, mother Flossie, sister Glenna, husband Art, and son-in-law Mike Walle. She is survived by her sister Maggie Hayes and husband Jim of Bakersfield, California; daughter Lori Walle of Edmond; son Craig and wife Tammy of Ooltewah, Tennessee; grandchildren Lindsay Walle of Arlington, Virginia, Morgan Williams and husband Lyn of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Jared Phillips and Jace Phillips of Ooltewah, Tennessee; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends for visitation from 6-8 PM Friday, January 11 in Matthews Funeral Home Chapel, 601 S. Kelly in Edmond. The funeral service will be at Memorial Road Church of Christ, 2221 East Memorial Road at 10:30 AM Saturday, January 12 with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13313 N. Kelley in Oklahoma City.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts to Oklahoma Christian University, P.O. Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100, with a notation to the Lou Phillips Memorial Endowment.
