Oleta Collier Phillips

Oleta, fondly called “Mamaw” by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, was born June 3, 1918 to Oscar and Bertie Collier of the Hudson Bend/Teck Community. She attended Teck School in Hudson Bend where she played volleyball and was the valedictorian of her graduating class.

She met her future husband Cleve “Pud” Phillips at a baseball game played at Camp Ben McCullough in Driftwood. They married on June 12, 1937 and spent 54 ½ amazing years together.

Pud and Oleta lived and raised their family in the Dripping Springs area. They made their final move to their home in Fitzhugh in 1967. After the death of Pud in 1993, Oleta continued to live independently at their home until 2 ½ years ago when her health began to decline.

She was a member of Fitzhugh Baptist Church, where she and Pud were active in all aspects of the church community.

Oleta enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the hunting lease or on the banks of the Pedernales River reeling in a catfish. On her last big hunt at the age of 89 ½, she bagged an 8 point and a 10 point buck.

She is survived by her three daughters, Lorena Burklund, Mary Lou Knutson(Sonny), Letha Doiron(Mike), daughter-in-law, Sandy Phillips; eleven grandchildren, Shyrl Hopkins(Jay), Bubba O’Banan(Theresa), Roy Lee O’Banan(Lisa), Terry Burklund(Lori), Troy Burklund(Lori), Craig Phillips(Anna), Kevin Phillips(Darlene), Hec Knutson, Haley Babb(Levi), Megan Doiron, and Caitlin Doiron. She is also survived by fifteen great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cleve “Pud” Phillips; daughter, Carolyn O’Banan; son, Kenneth Phillips; son-in-law, Edward “Swede” Burklund; son-in-law, J.E. “Toocker” O’Banan; granddaughter, Charlotte O’Banan; her parents, five brothers and four sisters.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2011 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Fitzhugh Baptist Church located at 11608 Crumley Ranch Road in Dripping Springs. Interment will follow at Fitzhugh Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Fitzhugh Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 67 Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Bluebonnet Auxiliary 1505 West Hwy 290 Dripping Springs, TX 78620 or the charity of your choice.