Jean (Maxey) (Johnson) Phillips was born November 22, 1938, to Clinton and Mable (Nance) Maxey in Carter, Oklahoma. She returned to the loving arms of her savior on April 30, 2026. A memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

She attended Carter High School where she met her children's father, James Thaddus (Thad) Johnson. They married and traveled together while Thad was in the Navy on the Enterprise in the Pacific Ocean. To this union, five children were born. After military service, they managed a family potato manufacturing company in Ft. Worth, Texas while raising their family.

Jean later moved back to Carter, Oklahoma with her children and returned to college at Sayre, OK to earn a degree in Microbiology graduating Suma Cum Laude. Upon graduation, she moved to Wetumka and worked as a medical technologist in the community.

As her children left home, she lived in various locations in Oklahoma, settling in Stillwater, then later returned for retirement to Wetumka, where she met the final love of her life, James "Jim" Hardy Phillips. She married Jim and moved to his home in Wichita Falls, Texas where he was a retired member of the AirForce.

Theirs was a true soul mate journey which lasted three years - a lifetime of joy was theirs for this time - both, having had difficult life struggles, prior to this. After Jim's passing, Jean moved back to Stillwater to spend the remainder of her life near her children.

Her children carry with them beautiful childhood memories of her gifts and the happiness of their childhood while growing up. She was known to her family and friends as an avid non-fiction reader and debater, exceptionally talented homemaker, skilled gardener, blessed musician, heroic animal rights champion, and exceptional mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her joy was the amazing potential each and every one of her grandchildren was able to reach and share with her, prior to her passing.

Our Mother leaves behind a legacy of love, which will be carried on by her children Gayle Blackburn (Dale); Mike Johnson (Margaret), Gary Johnson, Brian Johnson (Donna) (deceased); Gregg Johnson (Tina); her cherished grandchildren Valerie, Crystal, Ruger, Sherri, Randy, Cody, April, Kimberley, Thomas, Greg Mikeal, Travis, and her many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Her undeniable morale strength gives her family and friends great cause to celebrate her life.

Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.