Ella Marie Phillips Shutt

    Ella Marie Phillips Shutt was born September 13, 1931 to Clyde Phillips, Sr and Thelma Huseby Phillips in Vanderbilt, Texas. She peacefully went to her eternal home on January 21, 2020, at home in Jourdanton, Texas with her family around her. She was 88.     

She lived most of her childhood in Vanderbilt where she graduated in 1948 as valedictorian of her class. She was known by her childhood friends as “Bop”, led the high school band as drum major and was a much-loved classmate.     

On August 17, 1948 she married her first love, Alfred Shutt, and lived in Jackson County in and around the Koop settlement where they began a life as a family. In 1962 they moved to Jourdanton with their 2 children where they decided to stay. When her youngest started school, Ella worked a short time at Alvin’s Garage and then started her 31-year stint with the State of Texas in 1964. After retiring in 1995 she was able to devote and spend her time with her family, especially her grandkids.     

Her life was centered around her family and time spent with them was the most important thing to her. That family time included many a Sunday afternoon taking a drive around the countryside or spending time in her lawn chair under a shade tree with a fishing pole and her diet Dr Pepper next to her, patiently waiting for the fish to come to her. And she usually caught the most.     

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Clyde Phillips Jr, sister Norma Jean Munn, and great-grandson Justin Wells.     

Survivors include her son David Shutt, daughter Karen Rakowitz and husband Otto, granddaughter Stacy Sralik and husband Kenneth, grandson Patrick Rakowitz and wife Samantha, great-grandkids Nicole Wells, Hailey Sralik, Ace Ingram, Rylee Ingram and Ash Manguso. She is also survived by lots and lots of loving nieces and nephews.     

Pall bearers were Patrick Rakowitz, Kenneth Sralik, Ace Ingram, Clifford Born, David Sappington, Don Ripple, Thomas Foster, and Tom Poenisch.     

Visitation was January 24 from 2-8 p.m. at Hurley Funeral Home in Pleasanton. Funeral service was January 25 at 10 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Jourdanton. Interment followed in St. John Lutheran Cemetery.     

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. John Lutheran, Jourdanton or to St. Jude Children's Hospital.