Rosa Lee Phillips

March 25, 1927 - February 23, 2021

Rosa Lee Glasco Phillips was born March 25, 1927, in Reyno, Arkansas, with fiery red hair that would define her vivacious spirit for the 94 years she brightened this Earth. She grew up in Marked Tree with her loving parents, Lela and Lee Glasco. Rosa Lee was one of the first women basketball players, an All-State star for the Marked Tree Indians. She was on every committee - even yours (whether you liked it or not), and never hesitated to provide a helping hand, a kind word, or a piece of advice on your love life or fashion sense. If Rosie were here today, she would surely tell you a highlight of her life was meeting the love of her life, Douglas Phillips, of Harrisburg while he was playing in a dance ban and escorting a much younger high school girl (who, by the way, had no clue how to dance and was glued to her chair). Miss Glasco, a chaperone to the affair, waltzed over to Mr. Phillips (with a grin), and smartly asked him… “Well. Do you think you can keep up with me?” The rest is history, as they married shortly after, had two children, Jennifer and John; and moved the family to 1102 Cardinal Road in Jonesboro where they lived for 56 years. Rosa Lee was the matriarch of the family, the glue that kept the Phillips family together with infinite energy, the ability to mow the lawn with better style than most (her bathing suit) and kept the kids in matching hand sewn outfits and ironed underpants. Using her natural athletic talents and love of the Jonesboro social scene, she discovered golf later in life. She spent many years playing with her beloved ladies in the Jonesboro Country Club Ladies Golf Association... yet, never without her lipstick and gold earrings. She was active and joyful in all her days, instantly lighting up with the first note of Glen Miller’s In The Mood - tearing up the dance floor with her husband, Doug. You could find the dedicated pair watching ASU sports, known by name and greeted by players and coaching staff alike as they attended practices in rain and shine, often traveling to games with the football team or staying up late into the night to greet the team as they pulled into Jonesboro from a long road game. Rosa Lee was dedicated to her church, ministering to many in need, organizing events, and serving her cherished fellow church members. She was a faithful servant of God, with a giving heart that extended to every person she met through spreading God’s word and her active role in supporting her community. Rosie never met a stranger and embraced everyone as family. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Phillips (Jerry Shelton), Nashville, TN, her son, John Phillips (Nancy), Tulsa, OK, son, Tuan Nguyen (Loan), Rochester MN; grand and great grand children that she loved with all her soul; Caitlin Mello, Nashville, Jason McCoy (Kash Parks), Oklahoma City, Joshua McCoy (Brittany), Tulsa, and Jordan Phillips, Tulsa, Vy and Do Quyen Nguyen, Rochester MN; Marley Rose, Nashville and Chloe and Champ, Tulsa. She leaves a beloved sister and brother-in-law, many nieces and nephews and friends who loved her and benefitted from her loving kindness. The family would like to thank the wonderful people at University Village in Tulsa who loved Rosie and took care of her during the final years of her life. If you would like to leave a memorial to Rosie, please considering giving to The Merchant in Tulsa. The Merchant is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and homeless through compassion and grace offering prayer, conversation or a hot cup of coffee and food. To learn more about The Merchant, go to www.themerchanttulsa.com