Donna Jean Phillips, age 78, of Manhattan, died January 9, 2022, at Meadowlark Hills – Stolzer House.
She was born June 22, 1943, in Dodge City, Kansas, the daughter of Ward and Edna (Beard) Sims.
Donna graduated from Hays High School in Hays, KS.
She married Stanley Vincent Irvin in Hays. They later divorced. She
married Alan Lee Phillips on June 10,1972, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
While visiting the Phillips Family farm pasture near Olsburg, KS, in
the early 1970’s, she and Alan became inspired and decided their life
mission would be to form a retreat at that location. In 1974, they
founded the Living Water Ranch Retreat and Conference Center. This
God-inspired retreat became a beloved location, not only to area
residents but to countless others who came for rest, relaxation,
business, pleasure or simply to get away from life’s distractions.
Alan preceded Donna in death on January 8, 2018.
Survivors include her two sons: Mark Irvin and his wife Rafeala of
Germany, and Mike Irvin and his wife Lisa of Olsburg; seven
grandchildren: Blessed, Melissa, Crystal, Jeremy, Braden, Jaron and
Machella; numerous great-grandchildren: and three sisters: Linda North
of Hays, KS, Cindy Schwartz of Breckenridge, CO, and Janet Sims of
Lenexa, KS.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Monday, January
17th, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. Private family
services will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be left for the family by clicking on "Send Condolences" on this page.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorial
contributions may be made to either the Living Water Ranch or the Flint
Hills Foster Teen Camps. Contributions may be left in care of the
Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS
66502.