Obituary of Gerald Wesley Phillips

Gerald Wesley Phillips March 15, 1938 - July 30, 2018 Funeral services for Gerald Wesley Phillips, 80, of Lovington, NM will be held on Friday, August 3, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church at 10:00 am with Reverend Jamie Quinones officiating. Burial will follow at Lovington Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Gerald was born on March 15, 1938 in Foss, Oklahoma to Troy Oliver and Docia Mae (Whittenberg) Phillips and passed away at his residence on July 30, 2018. He was raised in Foss where he attended a one building schoolhouse and enjoyed playing baseball. He received his Master’s degree from OU, and was a dyed in the wool, HUGE fan of OU all of his life! In college he became interested in playing golf and through the years had become an “avid”, golfer. He truly loved and enjoyed playing golf, especially after retirement. Gerald was a teacher for many years, teaching in Oklahoma andTexas and then came to Lovington in 1966 to teach Chemistry, Physics, Science and Math. In 1979, he went into the oilfield business, owning ProKem Oil Company for twenty three years. He also enjoyed bird hunting, whether it was quail, dove or pheasant and also liked elk and deer hunting. Gerald was an active member of First Presbyterian Church for many years, serving where he was needed. He married Ellen Williams Dietz on December 3, 2007 in Lovington and they have shared ten and a half years together. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents: Troy and Docia; one son: Steven Phillips; his first wife: Arleta Phillips; one brother: Buck Phillips; one sister: Jeanne Morris; one sister-in-law: Sue Phillips and one brother-in-law: Bill Morris. He is survived by his wife Ellen Phillips of the home; one son: Jerry Kent and wife DeDe Phillips of Alamogordo, NM and one daughter: Connie and husband Vance Jackson of Elkins, W. VA. Eight grandchildren: Aaron & wife Carol Riojas-Phillips of TX, Amber and husband Caleb Chmielewski of Gig Harbor, Washington, Garrett Phillips of Tacoma, Washington, Bethany and husband Joe Pray of Iowa City, IA; Haleigh Jackson of Kansas City, MO, Cassidy Jackson of Waxhaw, NC, Nathaniel Jackson of Elkins, W.VA and Taylor Phillips & fianceé Benjie Wayne of Lubbock, TX. and also step-children: Jeremy McCool of NYC, Keith and wife Amber-Rose McCool of Rowlett, TX and children Maylee McCool and Roby McCool of Del Rio, TX; Kelli and Katelynn Williams of Lovington, Bobby and Lindsey Williams & children, Parker, Colton, and Race of Elizabeth, CO, Chad Williams of Lovington; Lindsey Williams and children, Ethan, Lyla and Alexis of Lovington and Samantha Williams and daughter, Allison of Lovington and a host of friends. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 2, 2018 from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm with the family in residence from 5:00 – 6:00 pm at the funeral home.