John Howard Phillips

Funeral Service for John Howard Phillips, 65 of Sallisaw, Oklahoma will be at 1:00 PM on Monday, August 19, 2024 at Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. 

John Howard Phillips was born September 18, 1958 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and was the son of John and Betty Ann (Phillips) Brewer. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving wife, sons and daughters-in-law, and sisters on Wednesday, August 14, at the age of 65.

John grew up surrounded by the love of his parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and sisters, and the love that he knew was reflected in the love that he gave. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Pamela, for 47 years, and this marriage produced three boys who grew to be loving husbands and fathers by following his example. 

John’s childhood with his cousins was filled with fun, laughs, and mischief. If you knew John at all, you knew that he was a storyteller. Some of his favorite stories were about his cousins and the trouble that they got into and the fun that they had. He loved to tell stories about his misadventures with his cousin Junior and his Uncle Buck, and no matter how many times he would tell these stories, they were enjoyed by all. He loved to talk about his high school antics and started many of those stories with “It was me, Gooch, and…” 

Following in the footsteps of his dad, John was a stubbornly hard worker. He would work in the heat, under difficult conditions, and through pain not only at his job, but to help out his parents, his in-laws, his children, or just anyone who needed him. He took pride in his work and his skills. He was brilliant and could figure out any problem and find a fix for any issue regardless of the complexity.

To his sisters and their children, John was a role model, an advocate, and a hero. He made up games to play with his sisters and told them stories with hilarious characters when they were little. He taught them and his nieces and nephews how to calm crying babies by carrying them “like a sack of taters.” He defended the little ones who were put into time out for just being kids. He was the big, strong caretaker of his little sisters who loved him so deeply. He loved the visits that he and Pamm would have with his sisters and their husbands and looked forward to each time they would connect, especially when these visits revolved around good food. 

John was extremely proud of his grandkids. He thought marching band performances were the absolute coolest. He thought they were all geniuses, the funniest, and the cutest. He loved each and every one of them so much and loved to share the latest accomplishment, misadventure, or milestone with anyone who would listen. He was always ready to get down in the floor and play with them when they were little. He built them a zipline and took them fishing. He loved spending time with them, teaching them things, and just soaking them in.

John was a proud Cherokee citizen and spent much of his childhood with his full-blood, Cherokee-speaking grandpa. He had many tales of their adventures. He loved to play guitar and loved all kinds of music. He introduced his sisters to Skynyrd, Frampton, the Eagles, and Bob Seger. He loved the freedom and exhilaration of a long motorcycle ride. He was a strong, loving, positive presence in the lives of so many, and he will be so missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Adolf and Betty Ann (Hannah) Brewer. 

He is survived by his wife Pamela, three sons, Marty Phillips and Kimberly of Sallisaw, OK, Daniel Phillips and Toni of Bixby, OK, Sammy Phillips and Haleigh of Edmond, OK, six grandchildren, Shannon Brooks, Tucker Phillips, Jessica Phillips, Lilly Phillips, James Phillips, and Mateo Phillips, one great-grandchild, Jordyn, three sisters, Kristi Walker and Paul of Tahlequah, OK, Erna Reeves and Cris of Peggs, OK, and Betty Jo Stover and Jim of Tahlequah, OK, and many other relatives and friends. 

Viewing will be 2 - 8 pm Sunday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw.

The family will be having a Memorial Benefit Luncheon at Sallisaw VFW on Saturday, August 17th from 1 - 4 pm. They will be serving pulled pork, chicken and sides for $10 per plate. There will be drawings and door prizes.