of Ozark, MO

November 21, 1925 - October 8, 2015

Melva Irene Calkins Manley was born November 21, 1925, to Melvin Stanley and Blanche Elizabeth (Hill) Calkins in Batavia, Arkansas, where she was raised by her maternal grandparents, Owen Taft and Myrtle Isabelle (Tipton) Hill. She passed away October 8, 2015, in Ozark Nursing and Care, Ozark, Missouri, where she had lived since February 2011. Days after Irene's birth, her mother died and her father and sister returned to Kansas where he later remarried and had
two more daughters.

Irene married Claud William Phillips February 19, 1944, and five children were born to them and raised in Western Grove, Batavia, and Harrison, Arkansas. From 1951 though the early 1990's, she worked at Obermann's Garment Factory, Tyson Poultry Processing Plant, Mass Merchandising, in-home health care and operated a resale shop. Just before entering the nursing home, Irene lived in a senior apartment in Bull Shoals, Arkansas. After Claud's 1962 death, she married Joe Houston in 1964 and Lee Manley in 1976.

Having quit school at 16 to support her grandmother and herself, she earned her GED from North Arkansas Community College at age 63. She graduated the same week her granddaughter Leona graduated from high school, days after the birth of her first great-granddaughter, Katie Howlett. Always an animal lover, Irene was especially close to her dogs, Cutie, Hank, and Baby. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, singing, gardening, bird watching, reading, telling stories, attending church and visiting friends

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents; her husbands; an infant brother, Phillip; a sister, Marjory Ilene Clark; a newborn granddaughter, Kendra Lynn Phillips; a grandson, Joe Bill Phillips; two great-grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.

Irene is survived by her half sisters, Delores Gould and husband Bob of Salina, Kansas and Joyce Sprecker and husband David of Goodland, Kansas; her daughters, Leona Claudina Steele and Mabel Gaye Phillips, both of Ozark, Missouri; her sons, Kenneth William Phillips and wife Vickie of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Thomas Eugene Phillips and wife Brenda of Western Grove, Arkansas, and James Randal Melvin Phillips of Springfield, Missouri.

Irene is also survived by her granddaughters, Darlene Steele, Leona Hilliker, Janet Pickel, Jamie Smith, Brandy Fritz, Melissa Townsend and Mabel Rose Phillips; her grandsons, Jason Phillips, Thomas Phillips, Perry Neil, and Steven McReynolds; her great-grandchildren including Katie Guerin, Chelsea Rose, Benjamin Hilliker, Jonathan Pickel, Wyatt and Benjamin Phillips, Brianna Smith, Tracey McLain, Bradley Phillips, Joshua, Luke, Haden, Faithann and Jaden Townsend, Marisha Gardisser, Felicia Hayworth, Trevor Phillips, Rachel and Katherine Neil, Kaylee and Kyle Ricketts and Kimberly and Kaitlynn Fritz; several great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; several cousins; and many friends.


Visitation was an hour prior to the funeral service Monday, October 12, 2015, at Holder Chapel, Western Grove, Arkansas. Interment was in Wester Grove Cemetery.

Irene's grandsons served as pallbearers.

The family wish to thank Ozark Nursing and Care Center staff for their compassion and care during her years there, other residents for their friendship, and Hospice Compassus for their kind attention and services.

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