1944 – 2024

James Robert “Bobby” Phillips, 79, of Sealy passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on March 21. He was born in Sealy, Texas on Dec. 4, 1944, to the late Leon and Vera Mae Phillips.

Bobby was long time resident of Sealy. He graduated from Seay High School in 1963 and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville in 1968. He married his high school sweetheart and neighbor, Deanna Kuchara, on Aug. 21, 1965, and they had two daughters, Nancy LeJeune and Kimberly Pekar.

Bobby belonged to various organizations and First United Methodist Church. He retired from General Welding in Houston. His greatest joys were his “girls,” grandchildren and cattle. He grew up on a horse, breaking many in his lifetime, with Dee being his favorite. He spent countless hours working cattle and tending to his farms. He always said: “I’m going to the bottom to check cows.”

Bobby enjoyed being outside. He enjoyed fishing, BBQing the best chicken ever on his homemade washing machine BBQ pit, and hunting with his dear friend Jerry Hanson. He attended as many cattle auctions as he could. He was never one to sit still. Every morning he would visit the “guys” at Riverside Tire Center and every evening would enjoy an ice-cold beer or two sometimes with his buddy Rudy Fotajsek.

He and Deanna were members of the Peter’s Western Dance Club and loved to get together with a special group of friends and dance all night in their younger years. They also enjoyed going to the casinos in Louisiana, taking road trips and family get-togethers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Louise and Harold “Kuch” Kuchara. Bobby is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Deanna Phillips, daughters Nancy LeJeune and husband Jay and Kimberly Pekar and husband Joey, grandson Ryan Strauss all of Sealy and granddaughter Hannah Pekar of San Marcos. He is also survived by sister-in-law Bonnie Smith and husband Ronnie of Sealy. Niece Kristi Malone and husband Rodney along with their children Harley, Harper and Hudson of Ft Worth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Sealy, Texas.