Jean S. Phillips, 82, of U.S. Highway 12 in Niles died at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

Mrs. Phillips was born June 9, 1927 in Washington, Pa. to Melvin L. and Katharine (Mounts) Scott. She graduated from Washington High School in Pennsylvania, attended Nyack College in New York and Southwestern Michigan College. She moved to Niles in 1984 from Lansing. She was a former high school secretary and librarian for both Bronson and Stevensville, Mich.

Jean was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. She was a pastor’s wife who actively supported his ministry to congregations in Grand Rapids, Bronson, Stevensville, Lansing and Niles. She was a volunteer with Meals-On-Wheels.
On June 19, 1948, in Washington, Pa. she married the Rev. Lloyd A. Phillips, who survives. She is also survived by their son, Dr. John Lloyd (Linda) Phillips of Fayetteville, N.C. and daughter, Linda M. (Jim) Baker of Buchanan; four grandchildren, Jeffrey, Andrew, Matt, Chelsea Jean; five stepchildren, Jimmy, Jody, Donna, Frank and Paul; and six step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by their son, David L. Phillips, who died July 15, 1997; a daughter, Elizabeth Phillips, who died in infancy; and by four sisters and a brother, Dessie Scott, who died while rescuing children from a burning orphanage now named the Dessie Scott Children’s Home.

The funeral service for Jean S. Phillips will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of the church and Jean’s husband, the Rev. Lloyd A. Phillips, officiating.

Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Jean may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Habitat for Humanity or Meals-On-Wheels.