Obituary of Marjory Phillips

Marjory O'Brien Phillips passed peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on December 4, 2013. Known for her warm humor, enduring faith and keen sense of adventure, Marjory was born August 30, 1917 in Fremont, Nebraska, the older of two daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. C.P. O'Brien. The family moved to Boulder, Colorado a few years later and Marjory happily grew up there and eventually graduated from The University of Colorado, after which she began her life of teaching and traveling. She taught high school English and Latin in various Colorado schools, including Chivington, Minturn and Lafayette until 1944 when she took a position in St. Louis, Missouri as an assistant editor at the Christian Board of Education. While there, Marjory learned of the need for teachers at the United Presbyterian Mission Schools in Egypt and she was soon off on a four--year sojourn that would take her to Egypt, Sudan and Uganda. Upon her return she continued teaching, taking positions in Nebraska, Arizona and, eventually, back in Colorado where she taught in Wheatridge, Arvada and Boulder. It was in Arizona where she met and married Yousta Phillips. They moved to Boulder, where they resided happily until his passing in 1981. In her later years, Marjory was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and was much loved by the many friends she made with her sharp wit and easy laughter. It was during this period that she recounted her travels in Egypt and, at 90 years of age, she wrote a published a book about it entitled "Don't Step On The Crocodile." She is survived by her nieces: Carol Estes of Paulsboro, Wa., Judith Sanfilippo of Eugene, Or., and Amy Bourne of Concord, N.C. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday November 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church, 1820 15th St., Boulder. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the Mission Fund of First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Samaritan's Purse International Relief, or RBC Ministries of Grand Rapids MI.