Vada M. Phillips

Vada M. Phillips, 100, entered the pearly gates on Feb. 1, 2015 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Nursing Care Center. She was born on August 13, 1914 in Paris, Texas to James Edward and Arah (Moore) Hindman. Vada attended school in Chillicothe, Texas. She married Cleao B. Phillips on June 23, 1935.

She and Cleao moved to Swink shortly after they married. The Hindman children were very close, so it was only fitting that Brother Roy would follow Vada and Cleao to Colorado where he would marry and raise a family. Just as Roy and Vada would do everything together from chasing chickens and toads to picking cotton on the farm, their families would also be merged.

A daughter Patricia Yvonne was born on Aug. 6 1941. The family moved to Denver during WWII where Cleao worked as a machinist. Vada spent her time caring for Patricia after she was stricken with Polio. Their second daughter Shirley Jeanne was born May 15, 1947 while they lived in Denver. In 1948 they returned to Swink where Cleao began working with his uncle operating the Phillips Oil Company and Skelly Gas Station. Their daughter Patricia died in 1951 at the age of 10, from a bout with pneumonia. Vada was a homemaker for many years and later went to work as a cook assistant for Swink Schools. She was a member of various women's bible study groups as well as the Rebekah's. After retirement she volunteered with Sage services. Vada was an accomplished seamstress, making most of her daughters, and granddaughters clothes while they were young. Vada also enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint and her flower gardens. Rose bushes adorned the front, lilac bushes framed the side yards and the "Naked Lady" lilies hung out in the back.

Family was important to Vada. When Papa Joe needed more care, he came to live with them. At any time you could find grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews or siblings at home with Cleao and Vada. There was always room for them and dinner on the table. Sundays were for Church and Fried Chicken Dinners. The chicken was fried before church and kept in a warm oven until the return home. Not just family but many a friend were also welcomed at her table. There was always some sort of baked goodies on the counter to enjoy. The great-grandchildren certainly enjoyed the sweets in the cookie jar. Nanny as the great-grandchildren called her loved to sit and hold the babies. She would rock them while singing or humming hymns. As they got older she would spend time with them in the yard, or walk them around the block. They all loved to go to the post office with her to get the mail out of the little windowed box.

From being a part of the Town Council, actively involved in all Swink School Activities, to volunteering with Swink Senior Citizens, Cleao and Vada were faithful Swink community members. In thanking Vada for those years of service, the Swink Town Council declared August 13, 2014 Vada Phillips Day in honor of her 100th Birthday. For many years Vada was member of the Holbrook Baptist Church, Rocky Ford Church of God, Jubilee Fellowship and Crossroads Church, serving the Lord through the teaching of Sunday School to being a part of a bible study.

Vada is survived by her daughter, Shirley (John) Baker of Albuquerque, NM.; granddaughters, Patti (Tom) Aldea of La Junta, and Michelle Hight of Houston, TX; grandson, Phillip (Jenny) Hight of Houston; great-grandchildren, Arah (Joe) Minck of La Junta, KaCee Mitchell of La Junta, JC Mitchell of Aurora, Devin Hight and Maraya Hight of Albuquerque, NM, Alissa Aldea (Sam) Grossman of Golden, CO, Aricka Aldea (Caulin) Hulsey of Pueblo, Stetson Hight and Jesse Hight of Houston, TX; and five great, great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephew, Jim Hindman of La Junta, & her niece Nancy Hindman Gebbie of Oshkosh, Nebraska, and many other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Arah Hindman, brothers, Roy, Homer and Earl Hindman, sisters, Tommye Etta, Elsa Beatrice and Elleda, husband, Cleao, daughter, Patricia, great-grandson Hunter Hight, great, great-granddaughter, Shyann Phillips as well as many nieces and nephews including Barbara Hindman Hutchins and Diane Hindman Adkins.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.


Funeral services will be Friday, February 6, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. MJ Romano officiating. Visitation will be at the church from noon to service time. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.