Obituary of Joyce Ellen Phillips

Joyce Ellen (Miller) Phillips, 69, of Midland, passed away peacefully at home in the presence of her loving family early Saturday afternoon, May 17, 2025.  She was born November 15, 1955, in Oak Park, IL to the late Rev. Alfred P. Miller and Eleanor Miller Stenger.  She traveled with her family as parsonages and opportunities opened, living in East Tawas, Flint, and Belding until she attended Central Michigan University, being graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education.  It was there in 1975 she met her husband, Jeffrey G. Phillips, and they were married with her father officiating in Greenville,  MI, on August 5, 1978. After substitute teaching business in the Bay City school district, she followed her husband, an English Professor, to Northwood (Institute) University in 1980, where she established herself as Assistant to the Academic Dean, for nearly ten years.

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in the following year. 1981, after the birth of her first son, she braved its challenges until it forced her retirement.  A fierce spiritual warrior, she faced down MS’s many robberies for over forty years; through it all she demonstrated her unflagging faith with courage and grace.  She attended services at First Baptist Church in Midland for as long as her body would allow, serving as publicity co-chair with her husband for Habitats For Humanity and working on the church’s newsletter. Joyce held the rare innate ability to quietly encourage others to smile and feel loved.  She focused her every waking moment on the positive aspects of life, buoying her spirits with warm humor, soft wit, and her favorite Hallmark movies.  She also held the distinction of watching her favorite film, You’ve Got Mail, an unprecedented three times in one day. 

Joyce was a spirit of life who loved her family more than she could articulate and delighted in being with them.  She surrounded herself with angels, literal and figurative, and most certainly is now taking her place among them.  It is fitting that she collected Precious Moments, for every moment with her was an experience to be cherished. She adamantly avoided reading obituaries and pointedly instructed her husband to change the channel whenever televised death notices were broadcast.  In honor of her wishes, you may wish to stop reading this now. She will smile and understand.

Joyce is survived by her grateful husband, Jeffrey Phillips, and her sons who make her swell with joy and pride, Kristopher (Cassie Finley) Phillips and Kyle (Hosanna) Phillips.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Midland. The Rev. Lara Freeburg will officiate.  In lieu of flowers, anyone planning an expression of sympathy is asked to consider a memorial contribution to The Multiple Sclerosis Society.  To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.