Bettye Phillips

Bettye Jo Phillips, née Duncan, 97, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024 at her home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with her son by her side. She was born in Duke, Oklahoma on August 24, 1927. A graduate of Hardin Simmons University and East Texas State University, she was a long-time resident of Commerce, Texas where she and her husband, Thomas Robert Phillips, Jr., were the proprietors of Phillips Food Store. She also served for many years as the pianist and organist at First Baptist Church of Commerce and was active in various local community and business organizations.

Bettye is survived by her son, Casey Phillips, five grandchildren: Tiffany Watts, Jarrod Phillips, Keaton Squires, Cydney Myers, and Kylar Squires, and three great-grandchildren: Maxwell, Sagan, and Severin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Duncan and Elvie Mae (Leverett) Duncan, her husband, T.R. Phillips, Jr., her daughter Anna Gayl (Phillips) Squires, three brothers: Buell Duncan, Herman Duncan, and Otis Duncan, and one sister Opal Duncan.

A memorial graveside service will be held for Bettye on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce.