Edgar (Papa) Phillips, 95, of Big Spring, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 14, 2004, at his residence. He lived a life devoted to God, to his famiy, and to the land he loved.Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel in Big Spring with Rev. Pat Ray, pastor of Prairie View Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 PM Monday at the funeral home.Born on February 3, 1909, in Iatan, in Mitchell County,Texas, he moved with his family of eight brothers and three sisters to Big Spring. Like his father and several of his siblings, Mr. Phillips began farming with a team of mules continuing into the era of computerized mechanization. Papa proclaimed that he farmed "all his life."He married Virgie Inez Fryar on October 9, 1924, in Big Spring. With her support, he farmed in Howard and Martin counties. They had five children. She preceded him in death on November 29, 1989.He was a longtime member and deacon of Prairie View Baptist Church. He attended faithfully until his health no longer permitted him to do so.He gave 43 years of service to Caprock Rural Electrical Agency as a director retiring in 1986. He was co-founder of Phillips Tire Company and was selected Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1973.He married Zora Ashley, a childhood friend, on August 11, 1991. She brought joy and companionship to the later years of his life.Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife, Zora Phillips of Big Spring; son, Fred and wife, Dora Phillips of Big Spring; daughter, Francis Ringener of Big Spring; son, Edgar Allen and wife, Amy Phillips of Granbury; and daughter, Sandra and husband, Bubba Beard of Houston; his stepdaughters and their husbands, Jimmie Pearl and Melvin Robinson of Grapevine, and Jane and Melvin Gillmore of San Angelo; twelve grandchildren, Dona Sinclair, Becky Fields, Philip Ringener, Marcus Phillips, Ilene Phillips, Tracy Phillips, Billy Paul Phillips, David Phillips, Dana Reid, Brandon Haney, and Jana Haney; nine great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by one daughter, Dorothy Yater, his parents, seven brothers, and three sisters.Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Marcus Phillips, Philip Ringener, Tracy Phillips, David Phillips, Billy Paul Phillips and Brandon Haney.The family suggests memorials be made to: Prairie View Baptist church, 1004 W. FM 2230, Big Spring, Texas 79720 or Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, Texas 79174-0001.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
