Opal Korean Phillips

Opal Korean (Brown) Phillips died on October 24, 2024, at the Comfort Care Center of the Hospice Home Care in Little Rock, AR. She was born at St. Francis, KS, on October 31, 1925, the second of four children of Louis Carra Brown and Florence May (Andrews) Brown.

Her paternal grandparents homesteaded in northwest Cheyenne county and were among the founders of the Clough Valley

Church. She grew up on a farm south of St. Francis during the depression but only had good memories of her childhood. She graduated from St. Francis High School and for many years she enjoyed returning for high school reunions as well as reunions of the extended Brown family.

She graduated from the Wichita Business College and while in Wichita met Robert Monroe Phillips, an Army airman returning from World War Two. They were married in Wichita on April 7, 1946, and moved to Manhattan later that year where he started veterinary school, and she worked as a secretary in Anderson Hall. He had a fulfilling career in veterinary medicine, and she supported him in every step, including stops in Fergus Falls, MN; Oberlin, KS; Athens, GA, and Overland Park, KS, before returning in 1975, to their promised land of Manhattan and Kansas State. There she worked for many years as a bookkeeper for a medical practice.

In the 6 years after Bob finished veterinary school, they had 4 children, and she began a lifelong project of being a mother. In younger years, she was a cub scout and brownie leader and was involved in the PTA. In later years, parenting became more complicated, first involving children in law, then grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Even into her 90s, she never gave up trying to coax her offspring in the right way.  Despite major transgressions such as going to KU, voting for a Democrat, or joining the Army, her children always felt her unconditional love. She tried to attend and celebrate her grandchildren’s graduations and weddings. Her best days were when her family was together, and a frequent lament was that her children lived too far away.

She was an excellent seamstress, making quilts, dresses, and shirts, as well as one Nehru jacket. She was a superb cook and baker, with her family remembering her noodles, brisket, and especially her quick breads, cakes, and pies. She found great joy in sending birthday and anniversary cards to family and friends, not expecting, but enjoying cards sent in reply. She especially enjoyed her birthday as she always had visitors looking for Halloween candy. She was a Hospice volunteer for many years. She exercised daily and spent many hours at the Chet Peters Rec Center, a man for whom she worked at Anderson Hall. She enjoyed all things related to Kansas State. She and Bob were season ticket holders to KSU football and women’s basketball for many years.

She had an unquestioned Christian faith, and her church was a huge part of her life. If it was Sunday, she was in Sunday school and church. Over the years she was involved in teaching Sunday and Bible schools, sponsoring youth groups, and working in the nursery. She enjoyed meeting with the American Baptist Women. She cooked and baked for countless church potlucks and funeral dinners.

After 77 years of marriage, Bob died in 2023 and for the past year she lived at Wellington Woods Memory Care in Little Rock, AR. Though she missed her beloved Manhattan, she found joy in spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as well as winning games of Rummikub.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her 3 siblings, and her son Jeff who died in 2009. She and Bob were Jeff’s caregivers during his final illness.

She is survived by her children Tom (Jenny) Phillips of Seattle, WA, Mary (Rod) Vestal of Sherwood, AR, and Paul (Beth) Phillips of Woodland Park, CO, 6 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

A memorial service and inurnment will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Manhattan, 2121 Blue Hills Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502.