Octa Elizabeth Phillips, 100 years old, formerly of Green City, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Sullivan County Memorial Hospital in Milan.
Octa came into this world on the family farm in rural Sullivan County on February 5, 1923 to Virgil and Minnie (Thompson) Ayers. On October 25, 1941, she married James Lee (“Chigger”) Phillips, they were married for 72 years until his passing in 2013.
She was also preceded by: two sisters, Crystal (Ernest) Darr and Gretchen Kent; and a brother, Coolidge (Tressa) Ayers.
Octa is survived by: One son, Robert and wife Marlene Phillips of Green City; Granddaughters, Cloe and husband Wade Billington of Salisbury, Missouri and Jessica Phillips and fiancé Quincy Neighbors of Kirksville, Missouri; Great Grandchildren, Kaylin and Finley Billington; a brother, McKinley and wife Elinor Ayers of Kirksville; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and all her extended family and friends she made over the last few years at Sullivan County Long Term Care.
Funeral services for Octa will be held 3:30 PM, Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Green City. Burial will follow at the Green City Cemetery. A visitation is scheduled for one hour prior to the service, starting at 2:30 PM, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Green City Cemetery.