Rachel Phillips passed from this life to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 11th, 2020, at the age of thirty-five.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the summer of 1984, Rachel was a “spitfire” of a child (as her mother often said) who found an outlet for her natural enthusiasm and work ethic through music. She quickly went from clarinet to alto saxophone in the junior high band program at Owasso Public Schools before continuing onto the high school marching band and Oklahoma State’s band and music program. It is there in Stillwater she would earn her degree in music education.
Rachel would go on to teach music at a number of schools across Green Country.
Her love for music carried over into her personal life, as she both supported local music – from community orchestras to local rock bands – and traveled for concerts and festivals. Her travels for education, work, and recreation took her across the world.
To her family, friends, and schoolmates, it is her infectious sense of humor and adventure that will be missed. Ridiculous jokes, physical slapstick humor, and a zest for life – to know Rachel was to know these things. And yet, she was never far from a book by a favorite author such as Augusten Burroughs or David Sedaris.
And, oh! The love for animals and all green things. Big dogs, little dogs, cats, and creatures. She loved them all.
She will be warmly remembered by her mother Lou Phillips, brother Will Phillips, and sister Dawna Phillips – along with extended family and dear friends. Rachel was preceded in death by her beloved “Poppy,” Jim Phillips, maternal grandmother Marguerite Spurrier, and an aunt, uncle, and grandparents.
Services were Jan. 17, 2020 at Green Hill Funeral Home in Owasso, OK. Flowers are welcome, or in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to the Oklahoma Music Educators Association at http://okmea.org/donate-to-okmea/
By
Submitted by Family
Original Publish Date: 2020-02-03 00:00:00
