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Joe Richard (Rick) Phillips was born in Bokchito, Oklahoma on September 6, 1947 to Reba Nell (Maxwell) and Billy Joe Phillips. On April 14, 2023, Rick passed peacefully in his home near Bokchito, Oklahoma. He attended Bokchito High School and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Rick was a life-long resident of Bokchito. Rick grew up helping Dad in the Mechanic Shop and Granddaddy on the farm. Rick inherited a natural talent for music. He proudly played Cornet in the Bokchito Roughriders Marching Band. He played piano by ear and sang in the choir. Rick traveled and sang with the High School's Barber-Shop Quartet. As a teen, Rick served as Sunday School Superintendent for Reynold's Chapel Church. He enjoyed visiting his mom for Chili and Beans on Saturdays along with family and friends. On Mother's Day, he expressed his love by attending church with Reba through the years.
Rick tackled the intricate details - like electrical systems which came in handy for installing speakers for radio hookups on the coolest cars at the high school. He worked hard in the shop - yet all the while - entertaining customers young and old with quick wit, stunts, and humorous tales. On Saturday afternoons Rick invited his trove of friends to work on their cars. Saturday night was the time to turn up the shirt collar, break out the Levi's, and pocket-comb his enviable mop of hair in the style of "Kookie". Saturday was the time to take his polished-up car joining the U-turns on the hometown drag at a snail's pace in front of the Bokchito Youth Center. Homecoming in Bokchito was also a great place to see him support the Class of 1965 with a flashy car.
On Sunday afternoons the family and pit crew would travel to Ardmore Drag Strip to race the many HOT cars that he souped up with BJ and Ross. His skills and kindness would be a blessing to others with broken down cars along his path throughout life.
Rick honorably served his country in the US Army from 1966-1968, when he served in Vietnam at Ben Hoa Military Base. He was assigned the duty of maintaining the General's Jeep in the motor pool, which included a few unauthorized Jeep races for troop entertainment. He managed the NCO club on base. Rick was a blessing to the nuns that he transported on Sundays for Mass Off-Base. Exposure to Agent Orange took its toll on Rick's health as well as so many soldiers who served. Rick's family feels deep respect and gratitude to all Veterans and their families for their sacrifice.
Rick's charisma was like that of Elvis, James Dean and Ricky Nelson all rolled into one. Rick was a natural born leader. His mechanical abilities and his love of reading gave him pleasure. Joe Richard Phillips was blessed by God, loved by family, and left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Those left to cherish his memory are his dad BJ Phillips, sisters Robbie Phillips-Dudley and Stella Phillips-McCarley, and brother Billy Ross Phillips, children Tina Janette Wilson, Kim Phillips-Boyd, Amanda Phillips-Tomasulo, Aaron Phillips, and Joe Harold Phillips. Rick was also blessed with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Preceding him in death are his grandparents Jim and Wilma Maxwell, and Mattie and Otis Phillips, as well as his loving mother Reba (Maxwell) Phillips.
Family Hour is scheduled from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 17, 2023 at Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at Big Creek Chapel with Ross Phillips officiating. Rick will be laid to rest at Bokchito Cemetery following his funeral service.
Those serving as pallbearers are Damien Anderson, Tim Robinson, Shawn Robinson, Kodi From, Zach Harris, and Mitchell Andrews. The Class of 1965 will serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Bokchito Civic Cemetery, P.O. Box 311, Bokchito, Oklahoma 74726, or the Bokchito Community Center, P.O. Box 445, Bokchito, Oklahoma 74726.
Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, 121 North 5th Street, Durant, Oklahoma 74701. www.holmescoffeymurray.com
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