Bernice Elizabeth Collins

  Noted events in her life were:

• Census: Dimmit Co, TX - 1920 Federal Census, 6 Jan 1920, Dimmit Co, TX. ³ Justice Pct 4, Dist 44, Sheet 1A, Stamped Pg 41

• Census: Dimmit Co, TX - 1930 Federal Census, 2 Apr 1930, Dimmit Co, TX. ⁴ Asherton, Dist 5, Sheet 1A, Stamped Pg 100

• Obituary: San Angelo Standard Times, 8 Jun 2006, Crockett Co, TX. ¹ OZONA \emdash Bernice Phillips of Ozona passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2006, in Ozona, Texas, at the Crockett County Care Center at the age of 92 years. Service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 9, at the United Methodist Church of Ozona with burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Ozona under the direction of Preddy Funeral Home.
She was born Bernice Elizabeth Collins at home in Asherton, Texas, on Nov. 21, 1913, to William Mortimer Collins and Olive Elizabeth Shaw Collins. At the age of 16, Bernice began her college career at Southwest Texas State Teacher's College in San Marcos. At 17, she began teaching school in Asherton at a salary of $54 per month to finance summer school sessions at The University of Texas in Austin until she completed a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 1937. Following graduation, she taught in Austin for two years at an opportunity school for underprivileged and immigrant children. Bernice gave credit to her mother for her encouragement and insistence that she attend college, and she passed along her strong belief in the value of education to her own children and grandchildren, all of whom obtained college educations.
On June 18, 1939, in Carrizo Springs, Texas, Bernice married Arthur Byrd Phillips, a widowed Crockett County rancher, and she moved to Ozona, where she spent the rest of her life. Although she had earlier met his two children, Corinne, age 9, and Byrd, age 12, on an outing to Christoval, she had never been to Ozona or seen the Phillips ranch until after their honeymoon in New Orleans. Her new sisters-in-law hosted a nine-table bridge party so everyone could come meet the new bride. Bernice reported that "everybody was real friendly, and I was the new talk of the town."
Bernice settled into the role of ranch wife and mother, and joined several community organizations. She was a longtime member of the Ozona United Methodist Church. She was also a member for more than 65 years of the Ozona Woman's Forum, serving a term as president. She was also active in PTA and Band Boosters and served as room mother. Because there was no rural school bus service, she drove the 54-mile round trip from the ranch to Ozona daily for several years to deliver her daughter, Diane, to school. In 1958, Bernice resumed her teaching career as an elementary school Spanish instructor for all children in grades three through five. She retired in 1978 after having taught two generations of Ozonans who still fondly recall their experiences in her classroom.
Bernice enjoyed traveling and visited many states and foreign countries, highlighted by trips to Europe in 1973 and 1974 with daughter Diane, and by a tour of Japan and China in 1986 with daughter Corinne and son-in-law Toby Carleton. She was an avid reader until her vision became impaired later in life. She was interested in her family's genealogy, and her research led to membership in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in 1983. She also volunteered services to the Crockett County Museum. Following the death of her husband, Arthur, in 1985 after 46 years of marriage, Bernice continued to oversee the operations of the Phillips Ranch.
Bernice outlived all of her generation and several of the younger members of her family, and many close friends, all of whom she continued to miss until the end of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arthur Phillips; her sister, Wilma Collins Courtney and husband Earl; and her brother, William Collins and wife Thelma; her son, Byrd Phillips; her in-laws, Emma Lou Phillips Adams and husband Clay, Hillery Phillips and wife Charlotte, Lela Mae Phillips Nussbaumer and "Babe" Phillips; nephews Bob Courtney, Bobby Nussbaumer, Buddy Phillips and wife Elaine, and Hill Phillips; and niece Benny Gail Hunnicutt and husband John R.
She is deeply missed by her daughters, Diane Phillips of Ozona and Estes Park, Colo., and Corinne Phillips Carleton and husband Toby of Midland. She is also survived by her four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, who were so fortunate to have known such a wonderful "Granny," Cathy Carleton Martin and husband David of Kerrville, and their sons, Michael and Dustin, Elaine Carleton and Dori DeJong of Denver and son Caden, Phil Carleton and wife Kim of Midland and their children McKenzie, Madison and Sam, and Elizabeth Phillips Hure and husband Mike of San Luis Obispo, Calif., and their children, Rachel and Robert.
She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews who were very fond of their "Aunt Bernice," Jane Adams Garlitz and husband Gary of Midland, and their children Wade, Christa, Clay and Ann-Caroline, Camille Adams Jones and husband Brock of Ozona, and their children Brock III and Margaret, Jan Nussbaumer Frazier and husband Ken of Colorado Springs, Colo., and their sons Bobby and Steve, Maycee Nussbaumer Collins and husband Tom of Pumpville and their daughter, Kaytee, Rick Hunnicutt and wife Shannon of Ozona and children Cody and Lacy, Gail Hunnicutt Simmons and husband Carl of Austin, and their sons Drew and Trent, Hope Phillips of San Antonio, and Christine, Rashel, Scott, and Mark Collins of the Eastern U.S. She is also survived by several first cousins, Cora Bettge, Milton Shaw, Elizabeth Weldon, Mildred Frederickson and Effie Mae Davis, all of Central Texas.
Bernice had a gentle and caring nature and a sweet sense of humor. She was genuinely loved and greatly respected by all of her family. She had many dear friends because she displayed a sincere interest in their lives and concerns. She will always be fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.
Her family extends its deepest appreciation to the kind and dedicated staff of the Crockett County Care Center, where Bernice spent her last years, and its heartfelt gratitude to all her faithful personal helpers during that time, especially Rudy Huereca.
Memorials may be made to the Crockett County Care Center at P.O. Box 640, the Crockett County Museum at P.O. Box 1444, the Crockett County Library at P.O. Box 3030, or the United Methodist Church at P.O. Box 983.

Bernice married Arthur Byrd Phillips on 18 Jun 1939 in TX.¹ (Arthur Byrd Phillips was born on 9 Dec 1901 in TX ² and died on 7 Jun 1985 in Tom Green CO, TX ^{2 5}.)