Cathy Cook Phillips

Cathy Phillips passed away peacefully at her home in Dallas on October 23, 2023. She was born in Jamaica, New York, on December 31, 1951, to Joseph and Catherine Cook. Cathy lived a fulfilling life as a proud Dallasite with an accomplished educational foundation as a graduate of St. Monica Grade School, Ursuline Academy and Southern Methodist University. She was a woman of many talents and applied them generously in support of her career, her passions and her friends and family.

Following her graduation from SMU, Cathy joined M/A/R/C where she hoped to make good use of her marketing degree and creative flair. In her long career there, she made lasting contributions as Sr. Vice President leading facilities design, corporate advertising and communication, and employee recognition – otherwise known as ‘extracurricular fun’. She focused her efforts on nurturing the strong corporate family culture that distinguished M/A/R/C as a leader in the industry.

During Cathy’s time at M/A/R/C, she met and married Cecil B. ‘Bud’ Phillips, the company’s founder. They briefly relocated to Pebble Beach, California, in the early ‘90’s to enable a planned transition in company leadership, where Cathy exercised her keen eye for design to create a stunning west coast destination for management retreats, while maintaining her connection to the company, her Cowboys, as well as her family and many friends. Following her return to Dallas and retirement from M/A/R/C, she joined her sister Colleen, at Cook Diamonds, as the office business manager where she supported the successful growth of this family business for 18 years.

Cathy will be remembered and loved for her many passions. Her creative spirit and pursuit of excellence was most expressed through her extensive, eclectic and cherished art collection, matched only by her collection of wine. Both exceeded available space in any home she ever had. But nothing could match the passion she had for SMU. She was an ardent supporter and loyal booster for the university. From 1996-2002, Cathy served, at times as the first and only woman, on the Athletics Trustee Standing Committee, the Athletics Campaign Steering Committee, the Mustang Club Board, and the SMU Alumni Board. She was particularly passionate about SMU Women’s Basketball, traveling with the team and becoming their biggest advocate.

Above all, Cathy was a loyal, caring and generous human being, with ‘passion for days’ for the people and pursuits she loved. She had a genius for creating good times for others, bringing smiles to our faces and lifting our spirits. Nowhere was this more prominent than in her status as a ‘Champion Gift Giver’, whose gifts were always profoundly unique, meaningful and enduring.

Cathy will be dearly missed, but not forgotten. Her husband, Cecil B. ‘Bud’ Phillips, her mother, Catherine Stanton Cook, and her beloved nephew, Austin Hunter Collins, precede her in death. She is survived by her sister, Colleen Cook Collins, her brother, Kevin Stanton Cook (Michelle), and her nephews, James Stanton Cook and Kevin Joseph ‘Joe’ Cook.

The Rosary Prayer Service will be held at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home on Monday, October 30, 2023, at 6:00pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:30am, followed by the burial at Hillcrest Memorial Park. A reception will follow at Northwood Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made to the Catherine Stanton Cook endowed scholarship at Ursuline Academy, Office of Development, 4900 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, Texas, 75229.