Remembering Stephanie Phillips

Back in 1998, when former Herald editor Bob Bowles passed away, we announced that “The Snoop” was being laid to rest.
For those under the age of 50 or have moved to the area within the past four decades, The Snoop was an editorial column for which Bowles was known. Although Bob didn’t actually start the column, he was the one who made it a weekly column and was identified as “The Snoop.”
The column originated as “The Snoop at the Keyhole”, and was later abbreviated to simply, “The Snoop.”
I didn’t work with Bob, but I knew him and always had an appreciation for his writing ability. I can’t hold a light to his style, but I’ve felt a certain connection to him because we both received our “formal” journalism training in the backshop of the Herald Office.
With that said, and with the permission of faithful Herald readers, The Snoop is being exhumed.
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This week I join with thousands of others in southwest Missouri in expressing sympathy to the family of Stephanie Phillips.
Although I didn’t really know her, I felt like I did, because I watched her play college ball as Stephanie Thurman, then followed her as a successful coach, most recently at Kickapoo High School.
Since she was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, I, with many of you, have thought about her, prayed for her, and watched and read news reports of her valiant fight. We were all encouraged when she returned to the court to coach the Lady Chiefs this spring in the state basketball finals.
My interest in Stephanie was also personal. Although I didn’t know her, I know her Douglas County family.
The work ethics she displayed on the court and the unrelenting faith she testified to are reflections of her grandparents, Frieda Thurman and the late Alva Thurman, who raised their family on Rippee Creek, eking a living out of  their Girdner community farm. Frieda also put in many  years of labor at the Rawlings Sporting Goods plant in Ava and the couple traveled long miles on the rural roads of this area as Alva preached the Word of God in small, country churches that only paid enough to buy his gasoline (maybe).
After graduating from Ava High School in 1969, Stephanie’s father, Edwin Thurman, went on to a long career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol that will span 37 years this fall. Sgt. Thurman flies both the fixed-wing plane and the helicopter for the Patrol, working out of Troop D in Springfield.
Funeral services for Stephanie Phillips, 36, will be held today (Thursday) at Second Baptist Church in Springfield.
Stephanie leaves her husband, Scot, a coach at Republic High School, and two sons, ages 6 and 3. She is also survived by her mother, Edna Happ; her stepmother, Pam Thurman; two brothers and two stepsisters.

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