Saturday, July 10, 2010

I'm gonna miss that smile
I'm gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
I'd do it all again.

So play it sweet in Heaven
Cause that's right where you wanna be
I'm not cryin' cause I feel so sorry for you
I'm cryin' for me.
-Toby Keith



Stephanie Susanne Thurman-Phillips

March 8, 1974-July 10, 2010

We Love you Steph...to Pluto and back.

30 comments:

DeLana B said...

I'm so sorry to hear Stephanie has passed. I know she is in Heaven and has no pain. Praying for her family and all of those who knew her during this time. God Bless.

Unknown said...

While staying at our home during one of Steph's trips to Houston/MD Anderson, she called and talked to the boys....Drew told her that he missed her like "crazy cakes." We smiled and then cried about how sweet those words were.

Steph - I will miss you like crazy cakes....and thank you for allowing Tim and I into your life. I love you girl.

xoxoxo
kathy

Anonymous said...

I am so sad. I knew Stephanie from Pediatrix cardiology. Dr. Wagman "Wiggles" as Levi called him took care of Levi, and absolutely adored Stephanie. Even prior to her diagnosis, Dr. Wagman would comment on how Stephanie was his favorite. Obviously she was loved by so many. I will miss seeing her. Rest in peace Stephanie
~Mandy Pullen (Peditrix Cardiology)

Anonymous said...

Rest in Peace beautiful girl. Our hearts ache and our eyes are full of tears but we know you are out of pain and being held in God's arms. We will miss you...

Hillengrandma said...

Chrissy, Thank you so much for posting this blog about Stephanie. I don't know either of you, but I almost feel like you are family. I have been following this blog since the beginning, and can't tell you the number of times I have prayed for Stephanie, you, Scot, the boys, and your Mom and Dad. Your family have been wonderful in your care of the Phillips family. I am happy that Steph is now free of pain and is with her Lord whom she so obviously loved and served. I will continue to pray for the rest of you that our wonderful Lord will comfort all of you and give you peace. Once again, thanks.

Anonymous said...

One set of footprints and no pain now. Step will be missed by many but never forgotten. She is coaching the Lord's team right now.Thank You Jesus for sharing such a wonderful person with us. We know you will take good care of her.

Josh said...

I'm deeply saddened to hear of Stephanie's passing. Thoughts and prayers to family and friends.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know Stephanie, but felt compelled to leave a message of sympathy to her family and friends. Reading a few lines from this blog is a testament to God's presence in her life. She is now resting with him, free. God bless all of you.

Terri said...

I always enjoyed you and your brothers coming in to see Dr. Brell when you were small. I know how much you are loved and will be missed by family and friends. God will take care of you now, and my Prayers are with your family and friends.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear of Steph's passing I will continue to pray for all of you through your time of sorrow and know she is looking down on you from heaven and is no longer in pain. May God bless you all

Anonymous said...

God saw you were getting tired,
and a cure was not to be,
so He put His arms around you
and whispered "Come with Me."
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer, and watched you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands were put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. Author Unknown

Our hearts and prayers go out to you all. May God give you the strength to get through this difficult time. May you find comfort in His loving arms.

Farewell Coach Phillips. Until we meet again.

The Waltons
Apple Valley, California

Jim Caffey said...

I loved Stephanie. We were close friends for 18 years. She were BFFs freshman year in college.

Now shes hitting 3s in Gods Court.

I cry now... but rejoice for the life you had.

I was honored and proud to call you one of my best friends.

I love you. Hit a free throw for me. One day, I will rebound for you.

Jim Caffey

Anonymous said...

I want to send my heartfelt condolences to Scot, Drew, Levi and family. Its with deep regret that I never had the privilege to meet Steph face to face. I know she has been an amazing wife, mother, coach and friend to so many. She was an amazing aunt to my son, Alex. Through him, my step mom Joyce and dad, I have learned so much about Steph. Through them, I feel as though on some levels I knew her. That's just the impact she has made on everyone she has come in contact with. Through her story many of us near and far could relate to her. We would pray for her, and were willing to fight the battle with her whether we knew her or not. She inspired all of us to never give up, as she never did. She fought her battle with such courage and strength and I know she will be terribly missed. Please know you all are in our prayers and I know that she is smiling from Heaven above where she can now rest in peace, hurt no more, and can be a guardian angel over you all. May God bring you comfort, strength and peace during this difficult time. I also want to say "Thank You" to those of you who opened your home and hearts to Scot, Steph and family! You too will be in our prayers! God bless you all. Sincerely, Holly, Alex & Family.
A special note from Alex...I love you Aunt Steph! I will miss you! Sending love to Uncle Scot, Levi & Drew during this difficult time.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your devout love and friendship to a very special person. God is looking down upon you and your family with favor for being his good and faithful servants. My hope is that your story will become a starting point for many others to help their family and friends during their times of need. As a past hospice nurse, there are many who are alone during these times.
My prayer tonight is for Scot and their boys, that they will look to the Lord for their strength during the next difficult days. God bless you tonight and always.

Anonymous said...

Words are not adequate; however, my prayers and thoughts are with you. As I look down at my 'stephsgonnawin" bracelet I know she has won...She fought the good fight and is now in Heaven reaping rewards. Strength, comfort, and peace to her family and friends.

Anonymous said...

The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitessimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling.
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

RIP Coach Phillips, you have touched SO many lives. I am so glad to hear that the pain has finally left your body and you are free. May your family and loved ones have the strength as you did to make it through these hard times..

My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

RIP

Anonymous said...

Steph's passing, for me, is very much like losing a close family member. I watched her play high school ball, college ball, and then blossom into an outstanding coach and role model for youth.

As part of the Kickapoo administrative team in 2001, I want to thank former Kickapoo principal, Pam McGinnis, for making such a great decision by hiring Stephanie Phillips as the Lady Chiefs Basketball coach. I was excited to have Steph on our team. Years later, Steph's input helped me when I was the Glendale principal in making a decision to hire one of her best friends, Coach Renee Temple, to lead the Glendale Lady Falcon Basketball team. Great advice Steph! Will miss you very much.

Gary Prouty

Anonymous said...

I haven't physically met Steph or any of you amazing women; however, I feel as if we've known each other forever. All I know is that you have all touched my life in such an incredible way! Thank you. I'm sure if given the choice, Steph would stay right where she is. Until we all meet again...keep looking up!

Anonymous said...

Steph won! Hugs & kisses to all of you...

Brittany said...

"The person who we have loved and lost is not gone, but is now everywhere we are."

My heart is aching for you, but know that we are praying for you.

God bless you and the amazing faith and love you have shown to Stephanie and her family.

Stephanie and I went to highschool together, she was 3 years older than me. We sat together in Spanish class. Her "Spanish" name was Yolanda and boy was she so nice to everyone. Much love, strength, peace and comfort to you all.

Claire Turner said...

"Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night."

rest in peace coach Phillips. you will never be forgotten.

Anonymous said...

She did win, because she didn't let Satan steal her witness or her joy--she let it be an even greater way to witness and reach others, even through her blog. And now she has won because she is in Heaven--and perfectly healed. She won the all-time championship game. Praying for those who are left. I know they will honor her life.

Anonymous said...

I only really knew Coach Phillips from this blog but I did have the privilege of meeting her once when I was a young girl. I had been very sick and battling a disease most doctors said would take my young life (God had other plans!) and somehow a nurse at the hospital found out how much I loved Lady Bear Basketball so it was arranged for me to spend an afternoon with them at a practice. I will never forget watching Steph drain 3 after 3 during practice. She took so much time with me after practice and I still have the ball and shirt she autographed for me that day. The whole day meant so much and I learned so much from her! May God wrap His loving arms around Steph's entire circle of family and friends and hold you all close through this difficult time! Steph did win because of all the lives she touched!!!!
Contessa B

Becky Wells said...

My heart breaks for those Stephanie left. She died very young, but touched more lives than a person twice her age. She made a valiant witness to thousands she never knew.

On my way home from church today I heard the Third Day song, "Cry Out to Jesus". It has always been a favorite song of mine but today it took on a different meaning because I thought of Stephanie.

"Cry Out To Jesus"

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus.....


May your faith in God give you comfort and you feel all the prayers being lifted up to help you in your time of need.

Sonya Smith McFall said...

God saw you
getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you
and whispered "come with me". With tearful eyes I watched you, and saw
you pass away. Although I loved you dearly I could not make you stay. A
golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke my
...heart to prove to me, he only takes the best.

Pam McGinnis said...

Chrissy: Thank you very much for keeping this blog so that all of us who knew and loved Stephanie could continue to keep up with her condition. Between the blog and always visiting her when I went back to KHS I felt like I knew how she was doing. You are an amazing young lady. Thank you! Pam McGinnis

Anonymous said...

(She) has fought the good fight, (she) has finished the race, (she) has kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Matthew 25:23

Anonymous said...

I don't any of you but my heart aches for you as I know what life is like for your family. I lost my husband to colon cancer when he was 38, 9 years ago. His was a very short battle of 2 months. Stephanie fought a long hard battle with her disease. It will be a long, tough road for those left behind but healing will come one day. Lost and Found is a great organization to help the boys with their recovery. Please consider calling them when the time is right. My girls went there for several years after their dad died and they are amazing in helping with healing after such a significant loss in their lives. It is healing for the parent left behind also, as the parents meet and talk while the kids meet.
I just finished reading 90 Minutes in Heaven and if heaven is anything like Don Piper describes, Stephanie is in such an awesome place. She is singing with the angels and walking on streets of gold. What a joyous reunion you will have one day with your friend, wife, and mother. May God truly bless each and every one of you as you begin to heal from the loss of Stephanie.
Praying for all of you.

Dixie Decker-Vaughn said...

I remember as a little girl watching Stephanie play for the Lady Bears and what a huge role model she was for so many of us, now having two girls of my own that too will have role models, my heart aches for all of you, as I also grew up knowing the Gidden's family, and in class with Ryan, my whole family is praying and thinking of you all. Those boys are so blessed to have you all as part of their life, as all of us moms know how much that means to know our babies will forever be loved, even without our Presence. Chrissy, I admire your strength and positivity through all of this, your are an amazing friend, woman, mother, daughter, sister, and much more! Stephanie has influenced so many, may she rest in Peace!

Anonymous said...

I was at church yesterday and we sang the song "I will rise" this some reminded me of coach Phillips and I wanted to share the lyrics. she has touched so many peoples lives.

"And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise"

rip coach.