(Billy) Jack Phipps

(Billy) Jack Phipps, 83 of Abilene, went to his heavenly home on Saturday, March 19, 2016 after a brief illness of cancer. A celebration of his life is scheduled for 1:00 pm Tuesday, March 22, 2016 in the University Church of Christ Auditorium. A visitation with the family will be held Monday evening from 5-7pm at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.

Billy Jack Phipps was born on February 3, 1933 in Childress, Texas to Jack and Minnie Moran Phipps. Jack was raised in Childress, TX and graduated from high school in Quail, TX. He was called into the Army during the Korean War and served honorably from 1954-1956. Jack married Norma Jean Derrick in Gatesville, Texas in 1957. They spent nearly 60 years together raising their three daughters and serving in churches together wherever they lived.

Jack retired from Texas Instruments after working for 35 years there. Not only was he a faithful employee but he was a faithful Christian, serving as a deacon, elder and teacher both at Garland Road/Highland Oaks church in Dallas, Texas and at University Church of Christ in Abilene.

Surviving Jack are his loving wife Norma, daughters; Melody Cook and husband Lyndel of Abilene and Ann Green and husband Rusty of Red Oak, a sister Mary Gage and husband Alan and a sister-in-law Charlotte Moehlman and husband Claude. He is also survived by his wonderful grandchildren that he adored Colby Cook, Crysta Cook, J.D. Green, Haley Jones, Colin Burgiel, Chloe Jones, Andrew Jones, and nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter Amy Jones.

The family requests that donations be made in honor of Jack to Arms of Hope, www.armsofhope.org. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.