Margaret Phillips

The day before her death Mom sat up and declared, “My names are Margaret, Maggie, Pudgie, Mom, and Mimi.” Margaret Ellen Phillips passed away January 27, 2025, with her family by her side. Mimi was born in Bixby, Oklahoma, on December 28th, 1923, to Rissie James Porter and Willie B. Porter. She married Joe E. Phillips on November 6, 1942, and celebrated 76 years of a loving marriage before his death.

Margaret was multi-talented, creative, and a life-long learner. Her family moved to New Mexico in 1931, due to her father’s health. She attended grade school, Junior High, and graduated from Roswell High where she participated in the tumbling club, the drama club, and the journalism club.

As a teen she worked odd jobs babysitting, a runner at Woolsworth, a clerk at J.C. Penneys, and a clerk at Bullock’s jewelry store. She was a lifeguard one summer at the Cahoon Park pool and worked part time at the city golf course. 

Margaret married Joe in 1942, and during the war she followed her GI Joe (Air Corp) to El Paso, Stillwater, Oklahoma; Louisville, Kentucky; and Warrensburg, Missouri. After the war they spent a year in Carrizozo, NM.

In the following years she made homes for her family in Hondo and in Roswell. Maggie was proud of being a stay-at-home mom to her five children and being a homemaker. She spent countless hours attending to her children and their many activities. She was a cheerleader sponsor, dance mom, piano mom, bleacher buddy, voice mom, PTA, Room Mother, Brownie leader, Scout leader, and Cub Scout Den mom. 

She was chairman of Roswell Story League three terms and Director of the Junior Story League three terms. Other activities she participated in included Junior Woman’s Club, Valley View Extension, Beta Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, the Friday Morning Coffee Club, and a charter member of La Sertoma. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church. There she taught Sunday School in the nursery, graduated to the 4th grade class, then on to the 7th and 8th grades. She served on the 1976 celebration committee, wrote for the Methodist newspaper, and served on the Stewardship visiting shut-ins. She was a member of the Searchers Class for many years. She also taught several of the Summer Bible Schools. One of her favorite things was telling a “back to school” story. She served on the Sunday School boards of education and was the flower chairman for several years. She was a member of the Mary Martha Circle for some time. In her later years she provided programs and table decorations for XYZ (a program for elders.) She has been an avid supporter of the Cowboy Bell Scholarship program.

Her most cherished organization was her Friday Coffee Club where she bonded with lifelong friends, solving the problems of their families, the community, and the world for seventy years. They met faithfully every week. She and one other remaining member Barbara Patterson kept in touch as pen pals writing to each other faithfully and visiting one another when they could. 

Maggie was a story teller, and she shared stories and book reviews to many organizations over the years. At age 80, Maggie joined the Joy Writers, a group taught by Eva McCollaum for Seniors. She put together a book, Mounds of Memories, from her many journals and had it published for her children, grands, greats, relatives, and friends. It is indeed one of her most crowning achievements, giving her children a memoir of her life and the many traditions of the Phillips family.

Mimi never lost her creative drive. In her latter years her hands were always busy cooking, painting rocks, sewing, writing, making bookmarks, cards. Her ministry of cards have reached many corners of the community and beyond.

Her family- children, grands, greats, and great greats were always upper most in her thoughts. In return she gave them a love of the Lord, music, art, reading, and family traditions. Her faith was unwavering. Her church family was a blessing to her and she was also blessed by a multitude of beautiful friends, including caregivers that were there to the end – Armida Loya, Michele Massey, Nina Morales, and the Gentiva Hospice Staff.

Those preceding her in death were her husband Joe Phillips, her parents, Rissie and Willie Porter; her first grandchild, Jamie Waide; her brother and his wife, Lott and Nena Porter; brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard Phillips, Lynn Werner (Johnny), and Mary Lou Welsh (Sam); Sons-in-law, John MacCallum and James Waide.

Maggie is survived by her children Claudia Waide, Ronnie Phillips (Gretchen), Joanne MacCallum, Rissie Daubert (Mitch), and Meg Tidmore (Ron); Grandchildren, Craig Waide (Kristin), Heidi Mattuecci (Jimmy), Chad Waide and Stacey Waide, Robyn McCrea (Bob), Katie Phillips Clingan, Jessica Haynes (Robin), Jennifer Adams (Jesse), Michael MacCallum (Lane), Kelly Bowles (Ben), Heather Amaro (Frankie), Melisa Daubert, Thad Tidmore (Suzette), Jenci Huebner (Luke), and Sarah Bechtel (Stephen), Brandon Tidmore (Lara); Great grandchildren, Holden Waide (Nani), Noah Waide, Joseph Waide, Sam Waide, Mamie McKee (Ethan), Maggie Brown, Mack Brown (Olivia), Monte Brown, Chelsi Henderson, (Conrad), Mary Kate Waide, Jack Waide, Holland MacCallum, Carter MacCallum, Lincoln MacCallum, Dalton Bowles (Bailey), Sydney Bowles, Lily Bowles, Harley Bowles, David McCrea, Anna Kate McCrea, Jaden Amaro (Amber), Jarren Amaro, Micaylie Daubert, Maddox Tidmore, Hattie Joe Tidmore, Camdyn Bechtel, Jackson Bechtel, Leyton Flores, Trenton Flores, Ashton Flores, Bennett Tidmore; Kristen Haynes Mediano (Silvia), Johnny Haynes, Dannie Haynes; Great Great Grandchildren, Margo Waide, Frannie Waide, Summit McKee, Lincoln McKee, Corbin Henderson, and Camilla Henderson. Sister-in-law, Elissa Phillips, many nieces and nephews. Mimi always said at large family gatherings “If it weren’t for me and Joe, none of you would be here!”

Memorial service will be on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 am with a meal to follow at the First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cowboy Bell Scholarship Fund at the First United Methodist Church or to a charity of your choice.