Terry Phillips, 82, of Parsons, died at his home Monday morning, December 31, 2018.
He was born near Bartlett, KS, July 30, 1936, to Homer and Marchie (Payton) Phillips. He was next to the youngest of 11 children. His family farmed around and in Labette County while he was growing up. When he was in the 6th grade his mother passed away and he went to live with Bessie and Johnny Branham near Altamont. He graduated from LCHS in 1954.
While in high school he went to Kingman, KS and worked for a farmer planting and harvesting crops and feeding cattle in the summers.
The fall of 1954, he enrolled at PSTC (now Pittsburg State University) playing football for Carnie Smith. In 1956, he joined the US Army, doing his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.
April 20, 1957, he married his high school sweetheart, Kae Statz. Terry was transferred after basic training to Camp Drum, NY. TDY Ft. Devins, MA. They considered that arrangement their honeymoon.
After being discharged (in 1958), he returned to Kingman and worked for a farmer he had worked for summers while in high school. After 2 ½ years and two sons later he decided to go back to college and get his degree in Industrial Arts Education. His first (teaching) job was teaching and coaching football, basketball, and track at Erie High School in 1964. In 1968, he was hired at Parsons Middle School and High School teaching and coaching and spent the rest of his teaching career in Parsons retiring in 1994.
Terry is survived by his wife of 62 years, a son Tony and his wife Debbie, a daughter Teresa and her husband Dennis Hays, six grandchildren Tyler Phillips (Tonya), Halee Kennett (Tyler), Marleah Wyland (Donald), Mikinzi Good (Kyle), Connor Phillips (Rachel), Payton Hays (fiance Ellen Buck) and Ashley Lange Great grandchildren Olivia, Tate, Cole, Tenlee, Aubree, Hudson, Carter, Collin, and Grady, and several nieces and nephews. Brothers Verlyn, Abe (Jan) of St. Louis, sister Zelia (Bill) Davis of Wichita, sisters-in-laws Bernice of Parsons, Neva Phillips of Ft. Collins, Co.
He was preceded in death by his parents Homer and Marchie Phillips, 2 sisters Rosalie & Wilma, 5 brothers Ronald, Robert, Lyle, HR, & Arvon and a son, Doug Phillips. Terry loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 5, at the Wesley United Methodist Church, with Riley Cartwright and Rev. Tim Bever officiating. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday.
Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Educational Foundation for the Doug Phillips Scholarship. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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