Lowell "Chief" Phillips (6-21-23) service 6-25-23

Lowell Evans “Chief” Phillips, 100, of Savannah, passed away on Wednesday, June 21. He was born on Jan. 25, 1923, in Saltillo, Tennessee, the son of the late Claude Thomas and Mary Ethel Johnson Phillips.

On Oct. 21, 1949, he was united in marriage to Mary Marguerite Franks, who preceded her husband in death on Jan. 25, 2012.

Mr. Phillips honorably served his country in the United States Marine Corps from Dec. 18, 1942, until Nov. 17, 1945, during World War II. He loved his country and was a lifelong supporter of the Marine Corps Foundation.

Lowell worked for the Hardin County Board of Education for 38 years as an Agriculture Instructor and vocational school director. He was a member of Savannah Church of Christ. He served as President of the Hardin County Fair Board, Chairman of the Hardin County School Board, President of the Tennessee Fair Association, and served on the Savannah Housing Authority. Mr. Phillips also served as a local veterinarian for farmers before there were licensed veterinarians in Hardin County. He loved gardening, amateur radio, and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his daughter, Janie Phillips Shutt and her husband Bob; son, Tommy Phillips and his wife Denise; brother, Paul Johnson Phillips; grandchildren; Susan Shutt Rasbach and her husband Will, Spencer Shutt and his wife Jenny, Nick Phillips, Sam Shutt, and Hannah Barber-Phillips and her husband Josh; and great-grandchildren, Ceci, Lizzie, Handley, Collins, and Whitten. Lowell is also survived by his beloved caregivers, Tracy Gean Highland and Janet Gean.

In addition to his parents and wife, Lowell was preceded in death by his sisters, Claudine Scrip and Nancy Sanders; brother, Charles Phillips; and one of his caregivers, Shanna Jones.

Memorial services were held on Sunday, June 25, at Savannah Church of Christ in Savannah, with David Baker and Barry Binion officiating. Burial followed at Memory Gardens in Savannah.