William E. "Bill" Phillips

Bill Phillips lost his courageous battle against advanced pancreatic cancer on Saturday, October 29, 2011. He passed away at home overlooking beautiful Flathead Lake in Polson, MT. He was born on May 26, 1942, in Missoula, Mt to Emery and Clayetta Phillips. Bill was a loving husband and father, an amazing grandfather, a wonderful father-in-law, uncle, and cousin and a compassionate fun-loving friend. He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Bill grew up and attended schools in Fairfield, Montana and was a 1960 graduate of Fairfield High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT where he was a member of the Bobcat basketball team. In January 2010, he was inducted with his team, the 1964 Big Sky Champions, into the Bobcat Athletic Hall of Fame. After college, Bill worked in Helena MT for Montana Telephone Company. Bill was married to Jeanette Boyd on January 3, 1970, in Wolf Point, MT. They first lived in Foster City, CA where Bill worked for General Electric Company. He was transferred to Fresno, CA in 1971, where he continued to work for General Electric. After several years, he went to work for Valley Children's Hospital as a Human Resources Generalist from 1991 to 1997. Bill became a Senior Human Resources Representative in 1997 for Valero Energy Company. He was transferred to Denver, CO and retired from Valero in 2004. He always loved his home state and dreamed about living in beautiful Montana near his brother, David.

He and his wife moved to Polson, MT after he retired. After a year of retirement, Bill went to work for US Department of Homeland Security ' FEMA where he served as an Equal Rights Officer and later a Congressional Liaison. Bill and Jeanette had two children, Kelly and John, they were the 'light of his life,' but his greatest love was his four grandchildren. His charisma and great sense of humor won him many wonderful friends. He loved watching his son play baseball, his daughter as a cheerleader, playing golf, visiting with his friends and cheering for the Bobcats.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Emery Phillips and Clayetta Phillips McCoy and his brother, David Phillips.

He is survived by his wife Jeanette Phillips, Polson, MT: daughter, Kelly Phillips Gonzalez (Donald), Del Rey, CA: son, John Phillips (Karin) Parker, CO: Grandchildren, Gillian and Nicholas Gonzalez, Del Rey, CA: Jackson and Madelin Grace, Parker, CO and many cousins.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Grogan Funeral Home in Polson, MT on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at 11:00 am. Interment will take place at a later date at the Victor Cemetery in Victor, MT. Memorials for Bill may be sent to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266: KRMC Lake County Hospice, 310 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901: or Polson Loaves and Fish Food Pantry, 904 1st Street, Polson, MT 59860.
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