Emmett (Phil) Phillips left us on February 14, 2013 to be with his beloved wife on Valentine’s Day.
Emmett Earl Phillips was born on February 5, 1920 to Anna Marjorie and Aaron C. in Gallatin Gateway, Montana. He grew up in Montana and in 1942 enlisted in the United States Army where he sustained an injury at Fort Benning, Georgia when a fellow soldier landed on top of his parachute. Phil remained in the United States Army until 1946 when he was honorably discharged and received the World War 2 Victory Medal and the American Theater Service Ribbon. In 1950, Phil joined the North Carolina National Guard and was honorably discharged as Sergeant in 1953.
In early 1945, Phil, arriving by train, stopped in a restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina where an outgoing young woman named Eileen asked if he would like to join her and her friend for lunch. That night, the two strangers attended a dance at a pavilion in Asheville and remained together for almost 67 years. On May 27, 1945, only a few months after their chance encounter, the two decided to stop of at the local Justice of the Peace while driving through Greenville, South Carolina to get married. After they wed, Phil and Eileen lived in North Carolina and raised 6 children. In 1959, they decided to move the family to Bozeman, Montana where Phil was raised. They lived in the Bozeman area for several years and in 1975 moved to Helena, Montana where Phil and Eileen lived happily together until her passing in December 2011. Phil was continually surrounded by his loving family right up to his passing.
Phil is preceded in death by his mother and father; brother, Robert; sister, Helen; sister, Liela; brother, Glenn; as well as a sister, Gladys Rose and a brother, Wallace who both passed away at a very young age due to illness.
Phil is survived by daughter, June (Jack) McDonnell of Helena; daughter, Constance Phillips Boyer of Helena; son, Buddy (Marnette) Phillips of Helena; son, Mike Phillips of Augusta; son, Dan (Mary) Phillips of Iron River, MI; and daughter Kathy (Daryll) Jensen of Helena; several grandchildren including: Steven Rhodes; Timothy (Grace) Rhodes; Susan (Blake) Parker; Philip Weaver; Richard (Tanya) Boyer; Shane Moore Phillips; David (Laura) Phillips; Robert Boyer; Montessa DePew; Jeff (Candace) Seliskar; Dara (Nick) LaFountaine; Trisha (Bret) Bodlovic; Dan Johnson; Andy Johnson; Jessica (Doug) Taylor; Maurisa Phillips; Aaron Jensen; Jason Phillips; and Mike Phillips Jr. Phil was also blessed with 30 great grandchildren (another due to arrive in August) and 2 great great grandchildren.
A memorial service with military honors will take place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. A reception will follow the memorial service in the social hall at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home; 3750 N. Montana Ave. Memorials in Phil’s name are suggested to the VA Medical Center, PO Box 1500, Fort Harrison, MT 59636, or to an organization of the donor’s choice.
Robert Allison says
I am so sorry at the loss of your Dad. I send my condolences. I know he will be missed greatly.
Robert
Marla says
Connie,
I am so sorry for your loss. It has been a very rough year for you. I do love the stories about your family and hope they will keep your memories strong.
Marla
Melody Constance Wood says
Lots of love and hugs coming your way. I will always remember Uncle Phil driving that big motor home and letting us kids go in and check it out! We thought we were so cool! Love to all!
T Alston says
I am sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in the hope of seeing your loved one again by means of the resurrection (John 5:28,29)