Rachel Lauren Phillips

Her life's punctuation mark was a semi-colon (;) and her life attitude was "Inca nu s-a terminat" (for Not Yet Finished in Romanian) – both tattooed on her left wrist.

The movie that chronicled the earthly life of Rachel Lauren Phillips ended on March 10 after a lengthy illness. She was born in Louisville, Kentucky on Feb 16, 1984 and became the only child of Gwen and Harold Phillips five weeks later.

During her 38 years, she graduated from Liberty High School, cared for preschool children, modeled acceptance and non-judgment toward all, was a member of Second Baptist church and loved family, friends and all who came near her.

She enjoyed traveling. Among her favorite trips were a graduation visit to Kenya visiting her Aunt Janie, a five-week family experience in Ivory Coast and Burkino Faso, birthday celebrations in New York and San Francisco, annual trips with "Mothers, Daughters, Sisters'' and especially a family time at Table Rock Lake in 2020.

The mantra for the final months was modeled by lines from Virgin River: "if you focus on how the movie will end, you will miss the movie." Her days were filled with visits from friends, popsicle parties, fun times with her bassett hounds J.P. and Abby, and lots of The Price is Right, The View, Friends, Young Sheldon and Roseanne.

She is survived by parents, Gwen and Harold Phillips, loving and faithful friend Patrick Mathews, aunts Amy House Deaton and Alma Phillips Jackob, uncle Andy (Nan) House, numerous cousins, a slew of extended family and friends, and, of course, J.P and Abby -- her two basset hounds.

The family extends profound thanks to medical providers at Liberty, North Kansas City, University of Kansas and St. Luke's Hospitals. They are grateful for every caregiver known to Rachel as her "nannies" from Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care.

Her numerous hospital stays and medicines generated unimaginable medical expenses. The family is grateful to President Barack Obama and every Representative and Senator who made possible the Affordable Care Act, providing millions of Americans (including Rachel) with health care and higher quality of life.

Rachel wanted to share whatever her body had to offer with others. Unfortunately, that was not possible so she is instead honored as a Donor In Spirit by the Midwest Transplant Network.

A visitation is set for April 9 (1pm) with a Celebration of Life (2pm) at Second Baptist Church (300 E. Kansas, Liberty, MO 64068)

Memorial ideas that span Rachel’s life interests include:

* A brick donation(s) with YOUR NAME(s) for the Liberty African American Legacy Memorial stands with Rachel to honor and respect more than 750 African Americans buried in the segregated area of Fairview Cemetery. LibertyLegacyMemorial.org/donate

* A gift to Second Friends Preschool acknowledges Rachel's love for children (Second Friends Preschool c/o Second Baptist Church, 300 E. Kansas, Liberty, MO 64068)

* The Phillips Family Fund with the CBF Foundation empowers girls and young women toward lives filled with significance. (HighGround Advisors, P.O. Box 840350, Dallas, TX 75284-0350 with a reference line noting The Phillips Family Fund.)

A visitation is set for April 9 (1pm) with a Celebration of Life (2pm) at Second Baptist Church (300 E. Kansas, Liberty, MO 64068)