Phyllis Stanton

By Staff, 05/17/18 10:19 AM

Mrs. Phyllis Billingsley Stanton was born on December 21, 1955, in Tupelo, Mississippi and passed away on May 14, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Ramie Billingsley of Blue Springs, Mississippi.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Mike T. Stanton of Saratoga, mother Joan Billingsley of Blue Springs, MS, brother Walter Billingsley (Vanita) of Tupelo, MS; sisters Gwyn Ray (Malcolm) of Horn Lake, MS; Debbie Fancher of Columbus, MS; Lisa Wiggington (Terry) of Tupelo, MS; sisters-in-law, Deborah McWatters (Harland) of Ridgefield, WA, Penny Frazier (Dwayne) of Wenatchee, WA, brother-in-law Rodney Stanton (Dana) of Wenatchee, WA, Special nephew, Nash Stanton of Idaho and several more nieces and nephews.

Phyllis graduated from East Union High School in Blue Springs, MS and attended Freed Hardeman College in Tennessee where she was a music major. She was the accompanist for many musicians and vocal performers and was the pianist for the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” at Freed-Hardeman.

She taught many private piano students during her career as a music and piano instructor at the school in Saratoga. Phyllis was a gifted musician and loved all types of music from classical, pop, gospel to the Blues. She loved the quote “God gave us music so we could pray without words”. Phyllis was a member of the Southside Church of Christ at Saratoga. Unable to attend in her last days, she would ask her husband, Mike, “Who preached today?”

Donations can be made to the Saratoga Cemetery Fund c/o 232 Highway 32 West Saratoga, AR  71859.

Visitation will be, Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 1:00pm till service time of 2:00pm at BRAZZEL/Oakcrest Funeral Home with Garry Stanton officiating. Pallbearers are Shane Lockeby, Jamie Hadaway, Keith Fricks, Tim Erwin, Robert Womack and Joe Corbell.  Burial will be in Saratoga Cemetery. Arrangements are with BRAZZEL/Oakcrest The Funeral Home of Hope, Eddie BRAZZEL, Director. Online registry: www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com