Maralee Phillips

1930 - 2025

Maralee Anna Moore Phillips of Lodi was called home by her Heavenly Father on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 95 years of age. Maralee was born on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1930 in West Plains, MO to Thomas Donald and Adah May Rich Moore, the seventh of seven children. Her father passed away in December 1930, leaving her mother to raise Maralee on the family farm as a single parent during the Great Depression. She attended grammar school and high school in West Plains. She and her mother moved to California in 1948. Maralee married Elwood Keith Phillips in Las Vegas, NV on September 5, 1948 and settled down in Porterville, CA. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Porterville, as well as an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church after moving to Lodi in 1971. Elwood was the love of her life; he passed away in 2014 after 66 years of marriage.
Maralee's greatest joy was being a loving wife and mother, and in gathering her family together for special times or casual visits. Every minute spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren filled her with joy. She loved her family so much and will be missed by all of her family who love her dearly.
Maralee was very active at St. Peter, devoting significant time and energy to her church. She was a long-time member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Maralee and Elwood brought the program "Growing Kids God's Way" to St. Peter and served as coordinators and facilitators for many years, until Elwood's health declined.
Maralee was also very dedicated to genealogy, and was an active member for many decades of the Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of the Union Army of the Civil War, and the San Joaquin Genealogical Society. She enjoyed the fact that both of her grandfathers fought in the Civil War, one for the North and one for the South.
Maralee was active in quilting for a great many years, a skill she learned from her mother. Until late in life, she was a member of Tokay Stitch and Quilt Guild and the TLC Quilt Club, both of Lodi. She delighted in making quilts for family members; she loved teaching young people how to sew and quilt, and to donate quilts to those in need; and she enjoyed making and donating quilts to patients in the trauma unit at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital, an activity she did through Daughters of the American Revolution.
Maralee is survived by two sons and two daughters – Parker (Carol) Phillips of Piedmont, CA; Elwood (Lori) Phillips of Mooresville, NC; Laura Shults of Mooresville, NC; and Dana Rigato of Stanwood, WA. Maralee is also survived by 12 grandchildren – Beatrice (Michael) Brett of Knoxville, TN; Meredith (Derek) Roth of Concord, CA; Parker Phillips Jr. of Piedmont, CA; Heather (Troy) Peterson of Granite Bay, CA; Justin Phillips of Incline Village, NV; Brooke (Steven) Frugé of Fort Mill, SC; Matthew Shults of Charleston, SC; Adam Shults of Mooresville, NC; Regina (Jason) Tyroch of Porter, TX; Erin (Martin) Roman of Camano Island, WA; Shannon Meier of Lodi, CA; and Kimberly Rigato of Stanwood, WA – and by 12 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Maralee is predeceased by her parents, by her husband Elwood Phillips, by her six siblings – Jadean Moore, Hubert Moore, Don Moore, Dorothy Barnett, Jack Moore, and Louise Hill – and by her son-in-law Derral Shults.
We praise God for the life and love of one of God's chosen servants.
A memorial service will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 2400 Oxford Way, Lodi CA 95242 at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish, please make a donation to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Maralee's memory.