Laurel E. Phillips

Laurel Erin Phillips, 31, passed away at her home on Saturday, March 30, 2013. Memorial Service: Friday, April 5th at 1:00 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1200 West Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington Memorials if desired may be made to TUMC Backpack Ministry Fund or www.dfwovarian.org. Laurel was born on May 7, 1981 in Arlington where she grew up. She attended Duff Elementary, Bailey Junior High and graduated from Arlington High School in 1999. She was certified as a Medical Assistant and worked for two Arlington area doctors for over ten years. Laurel was born on a stormy night and little did we know that our little bundle of joy would be a human whirlwind. Most of her early pictures show the impish rebel that she was to be. Ultimately, that trait would allow her to become a fierce fighter of the cancer that invaded her body 5-1/2 years ago. She underwent numerous surgeries, many chemo treatments and continued to amaze her doctors with her tenacity. Predications of her early demise would always be proven wrong until the very end. Her will to live was made even stronger because of the love of her two girls, Alyssa and Hannah. She loved shopping with and for them. She also enjoyed traveling when she could and made her last big trip to Holiday Island, Arkansas at Thanksgiving. While she was in great pain, she sensed that this would be her last chance to experience time on the road with her girls in a place she had traveled to often and enjoyed since a small child. Another of her great loves was to provide shelter and food for any animal that ended up on her doorstep. The thought of an animal in distress or of one passing away would break her heart. Laurel's life could be viewed as incomplete but on the contrary, her daughters completed her life. Her spirit and adventurous heart lives within those two girls now. A special recognition to those in the medical field, that treated her along the way, Drs. Hancock and Crowley, the hospital staff and Cancer Center with special kudos to Kathy who was her favorite there. Thanks also go to the entire Covenant Hospice staff, especially Melanie Hohman who was her nurse through the last two months and Kathy Kalina who helped over the last 24 hours. Not to be forgotten is Kim Sherrill who provided home health care nursing and fellowship to Laurel over the last 1-1/2 years. Laurel was preceded death by her grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Givens Phillips; grandfather, Bennie Moody Blevins; step-grandfather, Charles Glen McKnight. Survivors: Daughters, Alyssa and Hannah Colt; parents, Jeff and Benji Phillips; brother, Brad Phillips; grandmother, Mary Fern Carrell McKnight; step-grandmother, Sharron Blevins; aunts Sandy Blevins, Laura Camp-Flock and Delia Jones (Gary); uncles, Regie Blevins, Daniel Phillips (Judy), and Joel Phillips (Carol), plus numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.