Louis Earnest Phillips, 100 years old, of Harrison, Arkansas, passed away on December 8, 2013.

He was born in Bear Creek Springs, Dade County, Missouri on July 27, 1913 to A.L. and Elsie Gannaway Phillips. He married Florence Woodard on May 21, 1938 in Carthage, Missouri.

Louis and Florence lived on and farmed a 76 acre farm near Jasper, Missouri until they retired in 1978 at which time they moved to Harrison, Arkansas.

In 1938 he went to work for the MFA Farmers Exchange in Jasper, Missouri where he worked in several capacities including assistant manager. In March 1946 he became a licensed insurance agent and sold insurance at the Farmers Exchange. He left there in December of 1953 and served as an adjuster for the MFA Insurance Company. After 2 years he bought the insurance business and opened his own office in Jasper, Missouri which he operated until he retired. During this time he also drove a school bus for Jasper R-5 schools and continued to enjoy farming. Following their retirement he and Florence attended Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma from 1979-1980. His pastimes included helping his church, Grace Christian Center, and his neighbors as a handyman.

He was preceded in death by one son Robert Louis in 1949, his wife Florence in 1987, his parents and two brothers and one sister.

He married Norma Lovelace in 1988 who survives.

He is survived by his sons Tim Phillips and Charmaine, Harrison, Arkansas and Jon Phillips and Becky, Green Forest, Arkansas. His daughters Ruth Anne Merchant and Joe of Miami, Oklahoma and Robin Porter and Vic of Nixa, Missouri: twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Grace Christian Center, Harrison, Arkansas on Saturday, December 21st at 2 pm with Tim Phillips officiating. Visitation will be Saturday, December 21st at 1 pm at Grace Christian Center.