James Ryan "Bubba" Phillips

J.R. “Bubba” Phillips, 91, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on May 9, 2019, at Oakwood Manor Nursing Home in Vidor, Texas.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at Claybar Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas. Officiating will be Pastor “Big Jim” Salles with burial to follow at China Cemetery, China, Texas.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, May 13, 2019 at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Beaumont.

Born in Silsbee, Texas, on August 20, 1927, he was the son of Garnett Franklin Phillips and Olga Mae Bennett.
He served in the US Navy during World War II working on a LCVP Higgins Boat. Upon his return from the war, he worked for Santa Fe Railroad as a fireman, along with working for Sabine Towing as a deckhand. Rounding out his work career with the City of Beaumont where he retired as a fireman. J.R. enjoyed playing the harmonica, loved working with cattle and had his own shrimp boat. J.R.’s favorite past time was witnessing and ministering to people.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife and mother of his children Dorothy Phillips, his daughter Verle “Margie” Trevino, and his sister Dorothy Samaha.

He is survived by his spouse, Elsie Mae Phillips of Beaumont; his sons, Daniel Stone Phillips and wife Barbara of Conroe, Texas; James Brady Phillips of Beaumont, Texas and one daughter Tobie Leigh Heufelder and husband Don of Mesa, Arizona. Grandchildren, Brandy Erin Fry, Frank Edward Trevino, Jr., Angela Jean Mitchell, Daniel Wayne Trevino, Kristin Elizabeth Wukasch, Ryan Paul Heufelder, Clayton Merrette Heufelder and Kelly Garnett Phillips; 9 Great-Grandchildren and 3 Great-Great Grandchildren, and his sister Sudie Phillips David of Silsbee, Texas.