It is with great sadness we mourn the loss of Clifford Phillips who passed away on January 16, 2024 at his residence in Carbondale with his loving family by his side.
Cliff “Fib” was born on August 17, 1934 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Granite City, Illinois the son of the late Eugene Vincent Thomas and Harriet Irene (Boone) Phillips.
After Cliff was born his family moved to Litchfield, Illinois where he was raised and graduated from Litchfield Community High School. He went on to attend University of Illinois and St. Louis University. Cliff then married the love of his life Frances Reeder on August 23, 1953, together they shared almost 60 years of marriage before she passed away on March 27, 2013. During this time Cliff worked for Armour Co. in Evansville for eight years and then went on to work for S.S. Kresge Company, but landed at K-Mart. He managed stores in Moline, Illinois, Hammond, Indiana, Niles, Illinois and became district manager for stores in Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In 1975 he requested the K-Mart in Carbondale, Illinois and managed until his retirement in 1989.
The Phillips family loved doing things together from traveling, camping, theater, trout fishing at Bennet Springs State Park and boating at Crab Orchard Lake. One of their greatest loves was golfing. He got two hole in ones- one in Mercedes, Texas and the other was at Jackson County Country Club. The Phillips are 6 generations St. Louis Cardinals fans. Cliff and his brother, Tim purchased a personalized brick paver in the Musial Plaza, a lasting tribute to the greatest Cardinal fans in baseball. Our family loved Carbondale and Southern Illinois and our many friends. Cliff and Fran also spent over 14 years in Mercedes, Texas at their winter home.
In 1992 Cliff and Frances started traveling which included an Alaskan Cruise all fifty states except Utah and Idaho then they went abroad and traveled to Torremolinos, Costa Da Sol in Spain, Gibraltar, Rhonda, Granada, Alhambra and then to Morocco the 5th largest city in Africa. In 2007 they went to Barcelona, Spain for three days then to Rome form four days where they went to mass at the Vatican and got to see the Pope on the Balcony for mass. They went on to travel to Florence, Pisa, Sicily, Croatia, Venice, Dubrovnik Croatia, Naples, Pompei and of course Mt. Vesuvius. They have met some many dear friends all over the world in their travels.
Cliff was a member of The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, member and past president of The Saluki Booster Club, The Carbondale Elks Lodge for over 40 years and a 25-year member of the Carbondale Lions Club.
He is survived by his children; Julie Phillips of DeSoto; Christopher Phillips of Fort Worth, Texas; Timothy Phillips of Murphysboro, Illinois and Clifford “Chip” and wife Tina Phillips of West Frankfort, Illinois; brother Timothy Phillips of Springfield, Illinois. He also leaves behind thirteen grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren and many other relatives and dear friends.
Cliff was preceded in death by; parents; Eugene and Harriet Phillips; loving wife Frances Phillips; beloved daughter; Pamela Marie Phillips and a grandson Chad Rushing.
A Celebration of life will be held February 3rd, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home in Carbondale. Services will start at 1:00 p.m. with Father Uriel Salamanca.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the following: Hospice of Southern Illinois 204 Halfway Road Marion, Illinois 62959 or Alzheimer’s Association 2200 Cabot Drive Suite 460 Lisle, Illinois 60532.
Walker Funeral Home & Crematory of Southern Illinois is entrusted with arrangements.
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David Brunet says
January 25, 2024 at 7:52 pmI know that I am only one of many many employees of K-mart that had the honor and pleasure to be transferred to Carbondale Illinois back in 1978 and had the opportunity to work for the greatest manager I have ever come to know and admire in my entire life. Words can never express the love and respect I have for Mr. Phillips and my time that my wife and I spent in Carbondale, Illinois was one of the most enjoyable time of our lives. I would like to think that it was thru my working for Cliff that helped pattern my entire future in retail and how to run a retail store and how to properly treat my fellow employees. On behalf of me and my wife , we would like to express our deepest and sincere condolences to the entire family to the lost of such a wonderful man.. There are some people that really stand out in life that you have had a chance to meet and to come to know and love with such joy and happiness. Cliff Phillips stands on the very top of that list for me. God Bless you Mr. Phillips, you are indeed a one of a kind and truly broke the mold when the Lord made you . I hook forward to sharing more good times with you in Heaven when my time comes. Love you my friend and brother in Christ!.
Bill Kellenberger says
February 4, 2024 at 10:20 amI went to high school with ‘Fib’ and have lots of fond memories of him and the rest of the Class of ’52.