Kathy Jo Phillips, of Republic, MO, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side, on February 13, 2026, at the age of 76. She was born in Lubbock, TX, on July 09, 1949, to Robert and Elizabeth “Katherine” (Brewer) Grantham.

 

Kathy graduated from Aurora High School, with the class of 1967. She went on to attend SBU, receiving a bachelor’s degree in music education, she then went on to attend Southwest Missouri State University (MSU), receiving her master’s in music education. Kathy began working for the Republic R-1 School district in August 1971, and in December of that same year, she married Raymond Phillips. This union was blessed with two sons, Nicholas and Christopher. Kathy was an amazing musician, mentor, educator, friend, wife and mother. Kathy did not just teach, she instilled a love of music into decades of children, she opened up her home to children to learn, to practice and to find a place of love and acceptance. Kathy worked for a total of 54 years with Republic R-1 School District, consistently receiving superior ratings at music festivals in which her students performed, including three different times on stage at Carnegie Hall. Kathy instilled in her students a true love of music, and this has led many to follow in her footsteps, becoming educators of music themselves. Her dedication to the children she taught and the impact she had on decades of children, and their families, is a legacy that will continue on.

 

Kathy’s passion for music did not stop at the classroom level. She was also an active member of Phi Delta Kappa, NAfME, MMEA, ACDA and MCDA. She had served as the secretary and newsletter chairman for the Springfield chapter of PKD, and twice as a district director for MCDA, having been chosen by her fellow members , as “Director of the Year” in 2002. She served as District President for two terms, and Vocal Vice-President for the South-Central district of MMEA for two different terms. For seventeen years, Kathy was the festival manager for her MSHSAA district and had served as a MSHSAA rules interpreter for nineteen years. In 2009, Kathy was named the MO recipient of the National Federation of Activities Association’s award, “Teacher of the Year”. Kathy sat on a committee to establish new guidelines for the MSHSAA Festival sight reading. She was inducted into the MO Music Educator’s Hall of Fame, and in July of 2017, she was presented with the prestigious Luther T. Spayde award, an award presented by MCDA for her long-standing commitment to choral music education in MO. Kathy served as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Springfield Boys’ Choir, having ran their Choral Festival for eight years and served a term as President of the Board. Kathy has judged and served as a clinician for many clinics and MSHSAA Solo/Small Ensemble and Large Ensemble festivals and has presented workshops on sight-reading at two MCDA conventions. She was active in Kiwanis and did much of the planning, organizing and judging of the bands, floats and other participants in the Republic Christmas Parade, even serving as Grand Marshall for may of those years

 

Kathy and Raymond loved to travel in their younger years. Having traveled the United States from coast to coast. Kathy enjoyed reading, playing video games and spending time with her family. She was a long-time member of Hood United Methodist Church in Republic, actively directing the children’s choir and teaching the same Adult Sunday School class for the last thirty years.

She is survived by her loving husband, Raymond, sons Nicholas Phillips and Christopher Phillips and wife Jerusha Haling, grandchildren Ashley, Abel and Ivy Phillips as well as other extended family and countless friends.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Larry Grantham.

 

A Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 9 – 1 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church (804 State Hwy 60, Republic). Please note, family will greet relatives and friends the second half of the visitation only. Funeral services will follow at 1p.m. with Pastor Richard Fine, of Hood United Methodist Church, officiating. Kathy will be laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery following her funeral services. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Calvary Baptist Church, its pastors, and staff for graciously opening their church and providing a place for Kathy’s family to hold her services. Services are under the direction of Meadors Funeral Home in Republic and online condolences may be made at www.meadorsfuneralhome.com