Cora Jeannene (Pollard) Phillips, 94, of Warrensburg., Mo., died Saturday, October 21, 2023 with family at her side.
Born on May 4, 1929 in White County, Il. to the late Floyd and Irene (Johnson) Pollard, Jeannene was a 1947 graduate of Mils Prairie High School. Raised on “the hill”, her parents prioritized music lessons for Jeannene and her siblings. She played guitar in The Liberty Belles, a musical group that performed locally and on the radio.
Jeannene married Martin T. Phillips of Burnt Prairie, Ill. on June 28, 1947. The union lasted 71 years until L.t Col. Phillips’ death in 2018. Col. Phillips’ 33-year career with the U.S. Air Force took the couple and their three children to bases in the Philippines, Illinois, Texas, Washington and, finally, Missouri where they retired. A veteran of three wars, Col. Phillips was often away, and it was Jeannene who stoically raised their children and kept their homelife steady. Despite the family’s many moves, Jeannene’s heart never left Southern Illinois.
Jeannene and her home were the center of her family. She cared deeply for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, happily hosting every birthday and holiday. She loved beautiful things and filled her home with collections that brought her joy. There was always a half-worked jigsaw puzzle awaiting completion and a crossword being worked ni her perfect penmanship. A former league bowler, golfer and sportswoman in her younger years, Jeannene continued to play catch with her great- grandchildren and follow her Kansas City sports teams until days before her death.
Jeannene is survived by three children, Michael Phillips (Lynette) of Alma, Kan., Melinda McMahan of Knob Noster, Mo,. and Melissa Morehead (Thomas) of Blue Springs, Mo.; two granddaughters, Ashley Erickson (Nicholas) of Austin, Texas, and Lindsey Warren (John-Kelly) of Tulsa, Okla.; and four great-grandchildren, Finnegan and Rhys Erickson and Whitaker and Sloane Warren.
In addition to her husband, Jeannene was preceded in death by her brother, Floyd “Deon” Pollard (1994), sisters Kathleen “Kay” Carter (2017) and Lilie Bele Perry (2020), and son-in-law, Michael McMahan (2015)
Graveside services will be at 1 PM on November 3, 2023 at Liberty Cemetery in Burnt Prairie, Illinois. Nales Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Jeannene’s family would like to acknowledge the kindness of her caregiver Bonnie Cannon of Warrensburg, Mo. who helped Jeannene live independently at home until only three months ago, as well as the staff of Harmony Gardens, specifically Remona Trotter.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at www.nalesfuneralhome.com
