Nellie Williams Phipps

Nellie Jean Williams Phipps, age 79, of rural Lamar, passed away Sunday morning, September 6, 2009 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.        Nellie was born October 21, 1929, at Harrisonville, Missouri, to Carl and Allie (Hughes) Findley.  She moved with her family to Barton County in 1935 and graduated from Lamar High School in 1948.  On May 28, 1948, she married Elbert Jason Williams and they farmed northwest of Lamar for many years.   In addition to being a devoted homemaker and farm wife, Nellie had worked at Chastain’s Nursing Home and Barton County Memorial Hospital for several years. She enjoyed the outdoors, growing bountiful vegetable gardens and beautiful flowers.  In her retirement years, Nellie cooked and delivered meals for the Barton County Senior Center and volunteered at the Good Samaritan Shop.  She was an active member of Iantha United Methodist Church.        Nellie was preceded in death by a son, Robert Williams in 1992; her husband, E.J. Williams in 1993; and two brothers, Leonard Findley and Rev. Allen Findley.        On May 25, 2002, at Iantha, Nellie married Leroy Phipps and he survives of the home. Also surviving are two sons and their wives, Elbert & Nancy Williams, Lamar, and Kenneth & Cathy Williams, Jasper; two step-sons, Allen & wife Carolyn Phipps, Kansas City, Missouri and Jerry Phipps, Lamar: a step-daughter, Brenda and husband Bob Rhodes, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; 11 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.        Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9th at Daniel Funeral Home with Rev. Gerald Powley officiating.  Burial will be in Sheldon Cemetery.        Memorial contributions are suggested to Barton County Senior Center in care of Daniel Funeral Home.