Shirley Phillips

Life’s Journey

Shirley Lee Scott - Phillips

Shirley Lee Scott-Phillips was born on August 13th,1946, in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in love by WillaMae and Richard Evans.  At an early age, Shirley accepted Christ, and it centered everything she lived to accomplish in her own family. She attended Summer High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

Shirley fell in love in her early teenage years and, in 1963, married her sweetheart, Roy Lee Kenneth Phillips. To this Union their first two children were born Ronald and Tracie.  Roy and Shirley then relocated to Denver Colorado. They united immediately with the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, where Shirley and Roy worked together in the Diaconate ministry. Shirley’s skills as an educator were needed in the Church and sought after in the community, serving as an Early Childhood teacher for Park Hill Elementary.  After a 16-Year break of having their first two children, three more children were born. Veronica, Stephanie and Michael.

God blessed her husband and family to become successful entrepreneurs in the gas and oil business with multiple business complexes across the city. Roy and Shirley became the first black owners of Texaco gas stations in Denver Colorado. Their success helped to seed other endeavors to develop black-owned businesses in the Denver community.

Family was one of the most important aspects of Shirley's life.  She prided herself on celebrating the individual achievements of each of her loved ones.  All birthdays, graduations, baby showers, weddings etc. we're at time to honor each other and tell stories about what we appreciated about the person who we were celebrating. She could always be counted on to be present for important life events for anyone to whom she was connected. Shirley also served as a mid-wife for her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, friends and extended family.  She not only assisted in the delivery room but afterwards showing young mothers how to breastfeed and change diapers.

Her smile will be most remembered, with her arms opened wide to embrace someone with a warm, loving hug.  She had a God-given intuition that enabled her gift to comfort others.  Her uplifting encouragement and laughter could brighten up the day. Shirley never met a stranger that she would not take the time to allow them to share whatever was on their heart. People from all walks of life would just come up to her and out if the blue, share personal stories and life memories. Shirley was an educator at heart. Shirley took her commitment to education to another level when she made the decision to educate her and Roy's 3 youngest children; Veronica, Stephanie and Michael.  She was always finding creative ways to teach others. Whether it was a teaching the entire girl scout troop how to sew aprons, or building camp fires with the boy scouts. Shirley never missed an opportunity to have what she called a "teachable moment”.

On Good Friday, April 7th, 2023, mother, aunt, sister, and friend, Shirley Lee Scott-Phillips transitioned peacefully to her eternal rest alongside her soulmate Roy Lee Kenneth Phillips (predeceased, 2005). In death, she was preceded by her parents Chauncey Scott Sr., Hortence McCowan, WillaMae Evans, Richard Evans, and by siblings: Chauncey Scott Jr., Naomi Kendrix, and Mary Banks.

Shirley is survived by 5 children: Ronald (Cassetta), of Texas; Tracie (Eric), of Denver; Veronica (Jason), of Denver; Stephanie (Orlando), of North Carolina, and Michael (Cassandra), of Arizona.

Survived by 9 grandchildren: Joshua, Janisha, Drew, Cheree (Brandon), Taylor, Kailey, Stacey, Erin, Aiden, and Caleb.  Survived by 3 great-grandchildren: Jace, Royalty and Cassius.

Survived by brothers, sisters, and in-laws: Bishop Acen (LaQuilla) Phillips, Lee (Georgia) Phillips, Marie Taffe, Gloria Terrel, Shirley Scott, Ann (Ezra) Oriadha, Diane Kendrix, Eugene Banks, and Wanda Parker.

Surrogate children and grandchildren: Greg, Cedrych, Malice (Donald), Asa, Sheryl, (Matthew), Caytlynn, Alexandria, Chris, Anthony and by a host of nieces and nephews.

Shirley Lee Phillips will be missed, but never forgotten. Her legacy, lessons and love will live through all of us for years to come.