Leota Joann Phillips

Leota Joann Phillips (née Taylor) Jun 21, 1934 – May 4, 2017 Leota Joann Phillips of Mountainair, NM was surrounded by her family when she passed away on Thursday, May 4th at the age of 82. Born on a small farm in Rye, Co, she lived a thousand lives and wore more hats than can be counted: she worked as a bookkeeper for Creamland Dairy, started and ran an antique shop for a number of years, was a political enthusiast and supporter on a local and national level, nursed both animals and people to health, and maintained her beloved ranch in Mountainair until the age of 81. She loved anything to do with learning; voraciously reading, doing crossword puzzles, and watching Jeopardy helped keep her mind sharp until the very end. To say she was an extraordinary being does no justice to the person we knew and love. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Francis Taylor and Henry McCurry-Taylor, her first husband Chester “Chet” Bishop, infant son Jeffery Edward Bishop, and second husband Eugene Anthony Phillips. She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Kerby and husband Jason; her son, Weldon Joe Phillips, wife Maria, and their children Virginia, Victoria, and Weldon Anthony; her daughter/granddaughter Jo Anna Nevada, husband Robert, and their children (her great-grandchildren) Ava and Iris Eller, all of Albuquerque, NM; step-son Dale Phillips, wife Mangey, and their son Ethan of Lithia, FL; her sister Elizabeth Fountain and husband Henry of Mountainair, NM, and sister Arlene Stolz of Pueblo, CO. Beyond her family, she is survived by her “good neighbors” David and Brenda Cain, and their children, among many other beloved friends. Services to be held at her home outside Mountainair, NM on Saturday, May 13th at 11:00am. Take I-40 to Moriarty. Get off of I-40 on the 2nd exit headed South on highway 41. Drive 27 miles to the highway 41/US 60 junction. Turn right at the junction, heading West. Drive 9 miles and turn left onto a dirt road; County Road B027. Drive approximately 9 miles south to B011. Turn left, heading East (there will be two mailboxes next to each other on the East side of the road). This road will lead directly to the house. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the following fund which will benefit Friendship Gardens Assisted Living Facility, the place where she spent her final days being cared for and loved with amazing kindness by the beloved staff. https://www.gofundme.com/friendship-gardens-benefit