Naomi "Dolly" Phillips

On Friday December 18, 2020, Naomi Rachel Phillips died at age 96 in her longtime home in Buckley, Michigan. She was surrounded by her family and loved ones as she passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord while her granddaughter played hymns on the piano.

Naomi, known to all who loved her as “Dolly”, was born November 20, 1924, in Wayne, Michigan to Henry and Edith (Stenning) Hoath. Dolly was saved at the age of 8 and spent her life dedicated to the love of Christ and sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone she spoke to. In 1942, she married Arthur Phillips and they had five children: Bryan, Gay, Mark, Bethany, and Daniel.

The simple pleasures of life brought joy to Dolly. She enjoyed watching birds, working in her garden, and teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to knit and crochet. She kept busy with sewing, ceramics and needlework. She was best known for her frugality, her hard work ethic and her love and loyalty to her family. She affectionately called her family and extended family “my people” and she was dearly loved by them.

Dolly is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur and son, Bryan. She is survived by her children, Gay (Michael) Okon, Mark Phillips, Bethany Gaylord, and Daniel (Laurie) Phillips, and by her brother, Ivan Hoath Sr. Her descendants include twenty-two grandchildren, forty-three great-grandchildren and twenty-four great-great-grandchildren, as well as countless nieces, nephews and cousins that were dear to her. She had many lifelong friends.

Visitation and funeral services are being held on Wednesday, December 23 at Covell Funeral Home in Kingsley and will be officiated by Mr. Stuart Thompson and Mr. Jon Slabaugh of Sherman Gospel Hall, Buckley Michigan. Dolly Phillips will be laid to rest in May at Grant Township Cemetery.