Debra Kay Phillips

Debra Kay Phillips, 52, of Hughesville, passed away at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, on Jan. 29, 2009, after an extended illness.

She and her husband, Roderick L. Phillips, would have celebrated 35 years of marriage on July 27.

Debra was born in Tyrone, Pa on July 13, 1956, a daughter of Richard G. and Joyce (Davis) Nearhoof.

Debra attended high school in Tyrone but graduated from Muncy High School in 1974. Following graduation, she worked at the former GTE-Sylvania plant in Montoursville. In the late 70’s she graduated from State Beauty School and worked at Holiday Hair, Lycoming Mall, and later owned and operated “Deb Phillips Beauty Shop.” Debra was a former Pop Warner cheerleading coach, a member of the Flower Power bowling league and a Red Cross volunteer. Over the years, she was active within several churches including the Hughesville Friends Church, Moreland Baptist and First Southern Baptist Church. As a bone marrow and liver transplant recipient, she advocated for organ donation awareness and was a member of the Williamsport Area Transplant Support Group. She also enjoyed crafting and playing the clarinet and piano.

She is survived by her mother, Joyce Michael of Jersey Shore, her husband Roderick L. Phillips of Hughesville, one daughter, Stephanie and husband Joseph Taggart, of Hughesville, three brothers, Richard and James Nearhoof, both residing in Muncy, and William Nearhoof of Jersey Shore. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Dylan, Tyler and Alyson Taggart.

She is predeceased by a brother, Kenneth Nearhoof and her father, Richard G. Nearhoof.

The funeral will be on Thursday at 11 a.m., at McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 557 E. Water St., Hughesville with Greg Houseknecht officiating. Interment will be in Twin Hills Memorial Park, Muncy. Friends and family will be received at the funeral home on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be directed to organ donation efforts at the Gift of Life, 401 N. Third St., Philadelphia, Pa 19123.