Van Alstyne, Texas -- Martha Elizabeth Stephens Phillips went home to be with the Lord on October 31, 2017. She was born on September 22, 1929 in Van Alstyne, TX. Martha was baptized into Christ as a teenager and was a member of the Howe Church of Christ. Martha was the Salutatorian of her high school class and later became a Registered Nurse & practiced many areas of nursing. Her favorite area of nursing was working as an orthopedic nurse at WNJ hospital. She retired from WNJ hospital in 1994.
Martha loved her family dearly & her favorite moments were serving them on holidays & at any other opportunity she had.
She is survived by 5 children, Ricky Tillett and wife Cynthia, Elizabeth Ann (Libby) Dickey, Kathy Tolbert and husband Steve, John Howdeshell and wife Imee and Joe Howdeshell and wife Darlene; 10 grandchildren, Bill Tillett and wife Christina, Dr. Stephen Dickey and wife Kristen, Allen Tillett and wife Jennifer, Marcey Bench and husband Randy, Justin Atkins and wife Tamara, Kristi Trader, Johnathan Howdeshell, Jaron Howdeshell, Jessica Cardozo and husband Vicky and Jennifer Holmes and husband Chad; 24 great grandchildren, Alexis
& Jocelyn Tillett, Caroline, Annika & Mary-Kate Dickey, Ethan & Brock Tillett, Meredith & Jackson Bench, Ashton, Gavyn & Kash Atkins, twins, Braedon & Kyran Trader, Kaylee Witcher, Jonny & Abigal Howdeshell, Mackenzie & Aiden Howdeshell, Steven Filip Cardozo, Angelisa Lynn Meuth and Trace & Unity Holmes. She is also survived by her brother, Jerry W. Stephens and wife Patsy and two nephews, Garrick & Kevin Stephens.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents Orville “T” & Earline Stephens, grandparents, Earl & Lottie Dobbins, brother, James L. Stephens and son in law, Don Dickey.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for children, P.O. Box 199300, Dallas, TX. 75219-9842.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Scoggins Funeral Home Chapel with Toby Soechting of Howe Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow at the Van Alstyne Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.
Arrangements are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory, 637 W. Van Alstyne, TX. 75495.