Kathy Jo Phillips

Kathy Jo Phillips, of Republic passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side, on Feb. 13, 2026, at the age of 76. She was born in Lubbock, Texas, on July 9, 1949, to Robert and Elizabeth “Katherine” (Brewer) Grantham.
 
She 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. She began working for the Republic R-1 School district in August 1971, and in December of that same year, she married Raymond Phillips. They had two sons, Nicholas and Christopher. 
 
Phillips was an amazing musician, mentor educator, friend, wife and mother. She 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, which includes three different times on stage at Carnegie Hall.  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 17 years, she was the festival manager for her MSHSAA district and had served as a MSHSAA rules interpreter for 19 years. In 2009, Kathy was named the MO recipient of the National Federation of Activities Association’s award, “Teacher of the Year”. She also 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. 
 
Additionally, she 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. She 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 marshal.
 
She was a longtime 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 30 years.
 
She is survived by her loving husband, Raymond, sons Nicholas Phillips and Christopher Phillips and wife Jerusha Haling, three grandchildren, as well as other extended family and countless friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Larry Grantham.
 
A visitation was scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Calvary Baptist Church (804 State Hwy 60, Republic). Funeral services followed at 1p.m. with Pastor Richard Fine, of Hood United Methodist Church, officiating. She will be laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery following her funeral services.  Services are under the direction of Meadors Funeral Home in Republic and online condolences may be made at www.meadorsfuneralhome.com.