Catherine Alice Phillips

Okemos, Michigan

Born February 18, 1911, in Grant, Michigan to James Alfred and Lucy Pearl Phillips. She was the fourth of five children. Her siblings, John Watson (Madeline) Phillips, Margaret (Ralph, Jr.) Baker, Robert Wendell (Kathleen) Phillips, Genevieve Rae (Robert F.) Sage, are all deceased. Her extended family includes numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-great-nieces and nephews.

Catherine graduated from Big Rapids High School and attended Ferris Institute (now Ferris State University) for two years to study business. She was a member of Alpha Phi Beta Sorority. She worked at Citizens State Bank in Big Rapids before coming to Lansing in 1942. She was head teller at American Bank and Trust. She became the first female bank manager in Lansing at the Colonial Village branch of the National City Bank, and retired in 1976 after 34 years. She was excited to cast her vote in regular elections. Catherine was a longtime member of Church of the Resurrection Parish in Lansing, and volunteered at Sparrow Hospital. She enjoyed listening to the Detroit Tigers with her dad and was an avid fan as well as being an avid U of M fan. Catherine had traveled widely in and out of the country. She loved to play bridge, flowers, gardening, singing, music, and theater. She was a 50-year plus survivor of breast cancer, had walked the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day and remembers running to downtown Big Rapids to celebrate the end of World War I.

A private memorial service and family burial will take place at a later date. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society or Church of the Resurrection. Arrangements by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.

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