Mary Alice Phillips

Mary Alice Phillips was born on November 27, 1928 in Trumann, AR. She passed away on June 16, 2027 in Sacramento, CA at the age of 97 years.

The fourth child of Willis and JimmieLee (Glasgow) Turner, Mary had 2 older brothers, Richard and Jimmy, one younger brother Lee Carlton, and twin sisters Patsy and Bonny.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years Larry K. Phillips, sons Larry Dale, James Gayle and Dewey Lee, grandson Robert Phillips, parents Willis and JimmieLee Turner, brothers Richard, Jimmie and Lee Carlton.

Mary is survived by her daughter Brenda and son-in-law Marv Alley; sisters Pat Smith-Moody and Bonny Smelser, daughter-in-law Debbie and husband William Salyards. Grandchildren Wendy Harrington, Roger Gowen, John Cerruti, Denise Cerruti, Jeff Alley, Eric Alley, Larry Phillips, Bree Wilder, Nicole Lathrop, Andy Salyards, Chris Phillips and Matthew Phillips, 13 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Growing up on a farm in rural Arkansas, she and her younger brother, Carty, were very close and were often found working the fields or riding their horses around Trumann and the surrounding countryside. Mary would recount the story of them picking cotton and Carty picking just enough to make a pillow, and then he would take a nap between the rows... until they heard their dad coming. Apparently, she never “ratted” him out.

It was but the beginning of a deep and intense sense of loyalty to her family.

Mary was loyal and those who knew her saw it. But that loyalty, that dedication to the welfare of another, took its shape from love. She expressed it in a near unstoppable effort to provide through cooking and cleaning -that some saw as being busy- but was her making "home" for those she loved. You were always welcome at Mary’s, and she happily shared her passion of care.

Mary came to California in 1947 then making several more moves between here and Arkansas, settled permanently in Elk Grove in 1987. She found her church home at the Rock Church of Elk Grove where, as in everything she did, she threw herself into its life, launching one of the first Senior Groups, planning dinners out, picnics in her backyard, domino games, sewing “klatches” and trips to Apple Hill.

It isn't possible in 376 words to describe a life of more than 35,000 days. Though her name will be relegated to a cemetery's grave, her memory and through her presence, will remain, etched deeply into the fabric of our lives.