Dorothy Fern Phillips

Dorothy Bangert Phillips, 93, of Jackson, Missouri, passed away peacefully Friday, October 17, 2025.

She was born December 6, 1931, in Lixville, Missouri, daughter of William Henry and Myrtle (Blaylock) Bangert, and grew up in the Lixville area. Dorothy graduated from Jackson High School in 1949. She married Calvin Phillips on July 28, 1950, with whom she celebrated over 68 years of marriage. Calvin passed away February 28, 2019.

Following graduation from high school, Dorothy worked for 12 years at the LaPierre Sawyer Handle Factory office where she became the Office Manager. In 1955, Calvin and Dorothy established Phillips Excavating and Trucking which they operated for 38 years. After retirement they moved to the country where they continued to operate a silica gravel pit for over a decade.

Dorothy and Calvin were blessed with three children Judy (Dale) Snyder, Cynthia Phillips, and Holly (Ralph, Jr.) Drum.

Dorothy was baptized at the Whitewater Presbyterian Church in Lixville in 1931 and joined there in April 1943. After moving to Jackson in 1951, she joined the First Presbyterian Church, where she was an ordained deacon and elder and served many years as the session clerk and finance chair. She also was active in programs for the children, organizing and co-coordinating the Wednesday Kids program for several years, and as a Sunday school teacher. Dorothy was elected to the Council of the Giddings Lovejoy Presbytery in St. Louis and served on various committees for the Presbytery. She received a life membership in the Presbyterian Women group. In July 2005, she again began attending the Whitewater Presbyterian Church in rural Bollinger County and became a member there again in April 2007.

Dorothy gave back to the community through various civic groups, first as an organizing member of the Jackson Jaycee Wives and later serving as the president of the club. She spent many years working with the Girl Scouts, beginning as a troop leader for her oldest daughter, and working on the neighborhood level. She then became involved with the Otahki Girl Scout Council where she served on the Development Committee for the Cherokee Ridge Camp and other various committees. She became a board member and served the Council as President for six years. She was the recipient of the Girl Scout Thanks Badge and was pleased she could attend the Girl Scout National Conventions in Washington, D.C. and in Denver, Colorado.

With a deep concern for the youth, Dorothy served on the Jackson School Board for many years and served terms as President. She was also a member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Board serving one term as Vice President. She served many years on the Cape County Senior Tax Board. In 1987 the Jackson Chamber of Commerce awarded the R. A. Fulenwider award to Dorothy for distinguished service to the Jackson community. She continued to serve the community as a volunteer for an additional 30 years.

After retirement, Dorothy and Calvin moved to a new home in the country where they enjoyed the country life and gardening, and especially their grandchildren. They loved hunting and fishing together and spent several months each winter in the Okeechobee, Florida area where they fished almost daily. They loved RVing, beginning when the children were young and continuing into their retirement years.

Dorothy was interested in history and genealogy and she gathered, compiled, and printed books on the Blaylock and Bangert Families, not only with genealogy but with much historical and pictorial information.

Loving survivors include her daughters Judy (Dale) Snyder and Cynthia; son-in-law, Ralph (late Holly) Drum; five grandchildren, Donald (Hillary) Linskey III, Ashley (Paul) Ragsdale and Chelsea (Mark) Robertson, Clara and Lizzie Snyder, and one great-grandson, Donald William Linksey IV.

She was preceded in death by her husband Calvin; daughter Holly Drum (3-27-2022); her parents; four brothers, Edgar, Dewey, Wilbur and Pervis Bangert; and two sisters, Sidonia (Earl) Seabaugh and Ruby (Elmer) Stearns.

Visitation is from 10 a.m. to service time, Friday, October 24, 2024, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Charles Mangels will conduct the funeral service at 12 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

If considering a memorial contribution, the family suggests Whitewater Presbyterian Church or the Jackson Senior Center.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the guestbook beneath this article.