BIG SPRING Raymond Okley Phillips, 90 of Big Spring, died June 19, 2023. The family will receive friends June 22, from 5pm until 7pm at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 10am June 23, at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel with Dr. Randy Cotton, officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.
Mr. Phillips was born on Jan. 7, 1933, to H. O. (Hub) Phillips and Gladys Turner Phillips in Big Spring and was raised in the Lomax community. He attended Lomax school and Stanton High School.
He married Joyce Choate Phillips on Mar. 25, 1951, in Big Spring. They raised four kids and had a wonderful life together until her passing in 1992 at the age of 58. He later married Mary Ann Fairchild who passed in 2015.
He worked at CRMWD for many years then bought and operated Phillips Machine Shop until his retirement. He raised horses and border collies. He loved to rope, sing, and play the fiddle. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Stanton. He was saved as a teenager and baptized in a horse trough in Lomax.
He is survived by his children Nancy (Robert) Crenshaw, Sherry Phillips, Jim Bob (Penny) Phillips and Randy (Cecilia) Phillips, as well as nine grandchildren: Cari Harrington, Shannon (Michelle) Crenshaw, Brandon Harrington, Bucky (Kara) Crenshaw, Jared (Jessica) Phillips, Ragan (Andrea) Phillips, Hadden (Sarah) Phillips, Lindsay (Heath) Wilkerson and Bryson Phillips. He is also survived by 16 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild on the way. Sisters Linda (Larry) Roberts and Lila (Lyle) Mackey, brotherin- law Carroll Choate and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joyce Phillips, sister Leona Louder, precious granddaughter Misty Dawn Phillips, son-in-law Jon Hargrove, wife Mary Ann Phillips, and special friend Mary Ann Fincher.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons and great grandsons. In lieu of flowers, please give to your church or your favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com