Ebbertine Rea

Ebbertine "Ebby" Phillips was born September 4, 1931 and went to be with her savior on October 24, 2020 at 12:45 pm.  She was proceeded in death by her husband Leon W. Phillips brothers and sisters G W Spears, Louise Reese, Jude Blansett, Clara Staggs. Ebby is survived by her current husband Bill Rea, one brother Carl Spears and wife Avon of Crestview, Fl.  Three sons, Stanley Phillips and wife Cyndi of Brandon MS, their children Kimberly Phillips Gilliam husband Rocky, StephAnie Phillips Smith and husband Brad, Terry Phillips and wife Karen of Destin Fl, their children Amanda Krueger and husband Shawn, Destinie Collins and husband Danny, and Michael Phillips and wife Jan of Niceville Fl, their children Tiffany Rowe and husband Evan, Travis McCall and ten great grandchildren.  Leon and Ebby moved from Harrisburg, Arkansas in 1957 to Valparaiso.  Leon was a civil service employee on Eglin AFB and Ebby held several jobs in the Niceville community ranging from Piggly Wiggly, Bills Dollar Store, Skinners Fashion Store, Gregory's and Gilmores Jewelry Store. Leon and Ebby were charter members of The First Baptist Church in Valparaiso. Upon Leon's retirement both moved back to their homeplace in Harrisburg, AR, where Leon passed away in June of 2000 after being married for 49 years. Ebby and Bill Rea met in Arkansas and were married in 2002 and moved back to the Niceville area in 2004 and have remained locally until her passing. Bill was a Sunday School teacher at their local church in Arkansas. Bill owned his own Air Condition Company in Arkansas as well as working for the local Gas Company, retiring shortly after moving to Florida. Ebby was very family oriented.  Several hours were spent with her family putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, and Sunday afternoon croquet games. Many afternoons were spent playing beach vollyball with family and friends. She was fond of attending Valparaiso little league baseball. Ebby really enjoyed fishing and floundering, watching her children learn to water ski, and would occasionally go on a deer hunt so she could spend as much time as possible with her sons. She was also an avid supporter of Niceville football cheering on the Eagles. She especially liked to cook Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for her family and often engaged in homemade ice cream gatherings with Karo Pecan pie being one of her specialities.  Ebby was a faithful servant of the Lord and saw to it that all her family came to know Jesus Christ as their personnal savior! We know as much as we will miss her here on earth, she is celebrating in Heaven!

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