Mildred “Midge” (Phillips) Garza, one the original cast members of the very first Northwest Arkansas Gridiron in 1978, died on May 21, 2015, at Bentonville. She was 78.
She was born on February 28, 1937, in Houston, Texas, daughter of the late Thomas Clyde “T.C.” and Roberta (Felty) Beeman. Garza attended Lon Morris College, where she met her first husband, Ronald Jerry Phillips. They were married for 18 years. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, she worked as a journalist in Dallas, where she met her second husband, Simon Garza.
In Northwest Arkansas Midge was best known for the newspaper editorials she contributed. She will be remembered as a dedicated crusader for the protection of animals and participated in animal rescue operations nationwide.
Survivors included husband, Simon Garza of the home; daughters Cindy Phillips Acree of Bentonville, Susan Phillips Boevers of Murray, Utah, Cathy Phillips Gilbreath of Bentonville; grandchildren, Cory, Justin, Eric, Nick, Tracy, Colin, Hope, Austin, Alec, Audrey; and 6 great-grandchildren. She was also survived by stepchildren, Eric Reynolds, Diane Colangelo; and five step-grandchildren.