Sarah Hunter Phillips

PHILLIPS, SARAH HUNTER (1921~2004) Sarah Hunter Phillips, wife of Supreme Court Justice Thomas Hawthorne Phillips, was born on February 22, 1921, in Walker County, Alabama, to Ben and Clara Hunter, and grew up in Townley, Alabama and Coello, Illinois. She went to college at Southern Illinois University. Because of the intervention of World War II, Sarah began working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Springfield, Illinois. There she met Special F.B.I. Agent Thomas Hawthorne Phillips (Phil) and they were married in 1941. During their long and happy marriage she helped and supported him as he became a successful attorney, a district judge in Cameron and Willacy Counties, and Supreme Court Justice. In 1975, Phil died. Several years later, Sarah married John Aimonette, a high school friend.

While raising two children and participating in philanthropic, service, and church organizations, Sarah was able to complete her B.A. degree in education at The University of Texas. She was a creative and loving housewife. Gardening was one of her favorite hobbies. She also enjoyed entertaining. Sarah had a talent for making a beautiful home even more special through her china painting and oil painting. She also created and dried artificial arrangements by using the numerous plants, seashells, and driftwood that she collected herself. She was exceptionally proud of her two children and four grandchildren.

Another accomplishment of which she was also very proud was that of her work in P.E.O., a national philanthropic association. She became a member in Harlingen, Texas, and continued her activities when she moved to Austin, Texas, holding state office for seven years. Her time in office culminated in her becoming state president in 1966-1967. Sarah remained an active member in P.E.O. until she was no longer able to attend meetings.

Sarah Hunter Phillips, beloved mother and grandmother, died Wednesday, October 20, 2004, after a long illness, and is survived by her two children, daughter, Sarah (Sally) and husband Wayne Denton, of Austin and their two children, Philip, serving in Korea, and Sam, serving in Hawaii; son Thomas (Tom) Hawthorne Phillips, Jr., and wife, Lynne, their daughter Lindsey, all of Austin, and their son, Thomas Hawthorne Phillips, III, and wife Mary of Baytown, Texas; brother Dale Hunter, his wife LaWanda, and their children; and stepson Bill Aimonette and wife Nancy of Naperville, Illinois, and stepdaughter Cheryl Myers of Sarasota, Florida.

Information taken from obituary, Friday, October 22, 2004, Austin American-Statesman.