Michael Pat Phipps

Funeral service for Michael Pat Phipps will be at 11:00 am Thursday March 19, 2026, in the Craddock Memorial Chapel with Mike Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Dixie Cemetery with the assistance of Devon Walker, Jase Riggs, Weston Birks, Jeffery Dodson, Phil Cole, and Jeremiah Evers serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Lenny Walker, Danny Phipps, and Josh Paredes. Family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Craddock Funeral Home.

Michael Pat (Mikie) Phipps, 65, of Ardmore, Oklahoma passed away after a short illness on March 15, 2026. Michael was born on February 23, 1961, in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to Harry Dan and Betty Jeanine Cox Phipps.

Growing up a coach's son, he attended schools in Hobbs, New Mexico before moving to Dumas, Texas. While there, he went to Morningside Elementary School and Dumas Junior High. Mike was an outstanding athlete and led Dumas Junior High 7th, 8th, and 9th grade football teams to 2 consecutive undefeated seasons with only one loss their freshman year. The family moved to Port Arthur, Texas and Mike played his Sophomore and Junior years for Port Arthur TJ. His Senior year Mike found himself leading the Ardmore Tigers to the third round of the state playoffs, and he was selected to play in the Oklahoma/Texas Oil Bowl where he was the starting quarterback. He was recruited by several Division 1 Universities and chose to attend and play football for the Kansas University Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas. While there as the back-up quarterback in 1981, the Jayhawks had an 8-2 season with an invitation to play in the Hall of Fame Bowl finishing the year 8-3. Mike was awarded the Coach's Award for his Senior year at the university. Both on and off the field Mike demonstrated great character in his actions and was a gracious and humble leader. Mike never met a stranger and made lifelong friends wherever he went. In 1988 Mike married the love of his life, Robin Byram, and in 1990 they welcomed their son Wayland Tel Phipps. He was an amazing husband and father who valued family above all else. One of Mike's favorite activities was cooking for and eating with his family and friends. If you have ever had his Walking-Talking Beans or his cream cheese jalapeno dip, then you know. Besides his love of cooking, he was also an avid golfer. Mike began his professional career working for Mobile, Duke Energy, and DCP. He was currently employed by the Chickasaw Nation. Mike was a devoted sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous for 33 years.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers-in-law Jim Phillips, Jeff Dodson Jerry Byram, and Jerry Wyche. He is survived by wife Robin of the home, son Wayland Phipps of Ardmore, Oklahoma, sisters Dianne Phipps Phillips of Dumas, Texas, Lesilie Phipps Walker (Lenny) of Marietta, Oklahoma, Lara Beth Phipps Dodson, of Ardmore Oklahoma, brother Danny Phipps of Hurst, Texas, sister-in-law Diane Wyche of Edmond, Oklahoma, and brother-in-law Bill Byram of White Lake, Michigan. He was much loved and adored by all his nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. The family requests that donations be made to a favorite charity in lieu of flowers.