John Phillips, 40, of Diamondville, and a former Hillrose, Colo. resident passed away Friday, July 21, 2017, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was born May 7, 1977 in Ft. Morgan, Colo., to Jay and Debbie Phillips.
John started elementary school in Brush and then the family moved to Wyoming, where he finished Kemmerer Elementary. He graduated from Kemmerer High School in 1995. He attended Community College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada, studying computer technology.
John loved being part of the Kemmerer Special Olympics, Kemmerer High School swim team, and being the manager for the Kemmerer High School Ranger Football Team.
Some of his fondiest memories include participating in Kemmerer Special Olympics. He loved swimming on the Kemmerer High School Swim Team under the direction of Coach Gray. He also was so proud to be manager of the football team the year they were State Champions under the direction of Coach Scott.
He met and married Danielle Andrews in Moline, Illinois, on July 25, 1998. They later divorced in August of 2002.
He owned and operated Video Entertainment in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping. Swimming was a big part of John's life, and he swam up until days before his death.
John is survived by his parents Jay and Debbie Phillips of Diamondville; one sister, Misty (Joshua) Fenton, and their two children Cache and Chaos, all of Lawton, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents ,Richard and Doreen Phillips of Brush and maternal grandparents Reuben and Florene Johnson of Hillrose; and by cousins Joseph Sage and Brian Johnson. He is also survived by multiple aunts, uncles and cousins from Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Georgia and North Dakota. He leaves a legacy of friends, including his lifelong best friend Daniel Applegarth and family of Lusk, Wyoming.
A memorial service will be held Saturday August 12, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Hillrose Community Church. Inurnment will be at Brush Memorial Cemetery, and his ashes will be laid to rest and sealed at the Columbarium. A dinner will follow with a celebration of John's life after the inurnment.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to send contributions to Kemmerer Special Olympics, the Kemmerer Swim Team or Southern Cross Youth Rodeo of Foster Oklahoma or to the organization of your choice.
John's smile and laughter will be missed by all that knew him.
