Barbara Philips Obituary

Barbara Murray Philips (Bubby) was born December 10, 1926 in the small iron ore mining town of Eveleth, Minnesota, famous for producing many talented hockey players. She passed away peacefully with family by her side in Cumming, Georgia on June 22, 2017.

Barbara was the youngest of four girls. She graduated from Eveleth H.S. June 8, 1944 (2 days after D Day) and attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and earned a B.A. in Psychology in 1948. She also attended the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities where she was credentialed in Elementary Education in 1950. She taught in the Minneapolis and Little Falls, MN public schools and Lowell Elementary in Colorado Springs.

Barbara moved to Colorado Springs in 1957 where she raised 3 children and was very active in the community. She served on the PTA's of Jefferson, Will Rogers, and Colorado Springs School for Girls; she was a Girl Scout and Assistant Cub Scout Leader; volunteered for Head Start; was an active member of the Junior League and P.E.O.; volunteered at the Colorado College chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma and helped lead the effort to produce the poster "Doors of Colorado Springs" to raise money for the chapter. She served on the El Paso County Board of Adjustment and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs.

She was elected a Republican Member of the Colorado House of Representatives, District 17 (1985-1990). She served as a Republican Precinct Committeewoman 1974-1990's; was elected President of the Pikes Peak Republican Woman's Roundtable 1994-1998, President of the El Paso County Republican Women (EPCRW) 2002-2006, and Vice-Chairwoman of the Colorado Republican Party 1997-1999. She was elected numerous times as a delegate to state, congressional, judicial, and national conventions, chairing the Republican State Convention in 1996. She was active on many campaigns.

Barbara was the sponsor of a House Bill to make English the official language of Colorado and chairwomen of the subsequent ballot initiative that successfully passed in 1988. Barbara and other volunteers collected over 100,000 petition signatures, a record number for a time when petitioners were not paid. She also had an active role on the opposing side of "No on 6", a proposed tax increase.

Hobbies included bridge, curling, and traveling. Barbara loved dogs. She was proud to be an American of Scottish heritage and was a member of the Pikes Peak Scottish Society. Most of all, she loved to spend time with family.

Barbara was preceded in death by her second husband Col. Glen F. Philips, father Gordon Howard Murray (Smoke), mother Pauline McCall Murray, and sister Margaret Sarah Murray Woods. She is survived by two sisters - Janet Murray Woodward and Pauline Murray Walker; three children - Cynthia McCall May, Daniel Howard May, and Cathleen (Ba) Hoffman; 7 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life is scheduled for Saturday, August 19, 2017, 2:30 p.m., Gateway Presbyterian Church, 731 Castle Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a contribution to The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, 610 Abbot Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 (www.hsppr.org).