Jack Reed Phillips, lifelong resident of Georgetown whose family roots date back to 1896, went to the Lord on December 26, 2020. Jack was born on November 1, 1929, (three days after the Stock Market crash) to Archie Robert Phillips (WWI Veteran) and Letha Belle (Potts) Phillips, in Georgetown, Texas.
Jack spent most of his childhood in Georgetown living across the street from Founder Park until his family moved to Austin, Texas.
While in Austin, Jack attended Stephen F. Austin High and worked for his dad at Phillips Construction, hanging wallpaper, staining and refinishing, painting homes, and assisting socialites with the art of mixing colors for oil painting parties.
It wasn’t until Jack joined the Army in 1950, that he ventured outside of Central Texas and even out of the state of Texas. Jack was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso and Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. Jack quickly earned the rank of Sergeant while working with the shoreline Defense Platoon. Despite offers of promotion, Jack was eager to return to Texas and back to Georgetown to start a family.
When Jack arrived back to Georgetown in 1953, he worked for Davis Furniture and Appliance, located on the Square, and at night, he drove the ambulance for Davis Funeral Home. It was during a chance meeting that Jack met Shirley Jean Stewart, on the Square, that commenced into a marriage on August 26, 1955. What started that day has led to multiple generations of laughter and love.
After Jack’s father passed away in 1960, Jack worked for Rex Kitchens Construction, in Austin, and worked on Texas Tech and Southwestern University projects. Jack, and Harold Moore, formed Phillips and Moore General Contractors and built new homes, remodeled numerous homes in the area and many of the buildings on the downtown square and even constructed a new church. They were very active in the Little League and youth sports as coaches and team sponsors for several years.
In Jack’s spare time, Jack and Jean built, owned, and operated Pic-N-Pac grocery, in 1964, on Williams Drive. Jack built their home in 1969, which his wife of over 65 years still resides. In 1975, they built and operated the Yellow Cat Restaurant, at the San Gabriel Park entrance.
Jack and Jean were active in St. John’s Methodist Church, the Eastern Star of Hadassah, a 32nd degree Free Mason (Worshipful Master), Ben Hur Shrine Temple, the Model-A Club, and Jack served on a Grand Jury. Jack loved and looked forward to his daily coffee shop “club” meeting with the “boys”. These meetings could resolve all the world’s problems within an hour and half each day.
Jack’s biggest investment was his family and he invested in them every day of his life. Whatever project his kids or grandkids had, Jack would be the first person on the job with a plan that was methodically scripted and tested during his limited hours of sleep the night before. From homes, decks, swimming pools, science projects to automotive repairs, Jack always had a plan and the skill to get the project complete.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Archie Robert “Todd” Phillips, Jr. WWII (Veteran), sister Peggy Phillips Tilden and daughter-in-law Barbie Kay Phillips.
Survivors include, wife of 65 years, Shirley Jean Phillips (Stewart); son, Robert (wife Karen Lynn) Phillips; daughter, Karen Barr; son, Jack “Jay” Phillips, Jr.; grandchildren, James (Staci) Landry, Ryan Landry, Michael (Holly) Witt, Jacob (Alyssa) Witt, Tiffany Witt, Melissa Witt, Zachary (Melody) Zezulka, Nick (Danielle) Barr, Melody Gifford, Cassie (Garrett) Davis, Reese Phillips, Shelby Phillips, and Ryleigh Phillips; and 26 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive guests for a time of visitation from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Monday, January 4, 2021 at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown Funeral services will follow at 1:00 P.M. in the chapel of Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home. A military graveside service following at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Georgetown.
