Perry E. Phillips

Perry E. Phillips, 93, of West Caln Township, Coatesville, PA, passed away at his home on Saturday, June 29, 2024.  He was the husband of the late Jeanne E. Donovan Phillips who passed away in 2002 after 51 years of marriage.  Born in Parkesburg, PA, on March 13, 1931, he was the son of the late Emory E. and Bertha Wolfe Phillips Sr.  His mother passed away when he was four years old.

Perry was an area resident all his life.  As a young man he worked for his father who was a well known cattle dealer in Chester County.  Perry loaded livestock and later did the butchering.  There was a time when they drove cattle to Lancaster by foot before the use of a truck.  He remembers the drudgery of this work.  In the snow they would wrap burlap bags around their legs to help keep warm.  They would stop along the route for a fifty cent bowl of potato soup.  Maybe this is why he never liked it through the years.  He talked about knowing how to hunt squirrels as a kid and how they had to work their "rear ends" off for ten cents to go see the movie showing at the old opera house.  Perry was there when his father built the village known as Phillipsville.  More recently he was self employed as a contractor of environmental services.

Perry and Jeanne started a journey on their own in an old school bus with a baby and a toddler.  They had to haul water from a spring.  Between now and then he took on many enterprises.  Among the list, operating a service station in Honey Brook, PA, doing excavating work for years, pumping and manufacturing concrete septic tanks, raising livestock and building his own mobile home park.  He had a big stride going up the walk everyday, anxious to get to work.

As a youngster he attended the First Presbyterian Church in Parkesburg.  As the story goes, he needed a pair of shoes one Sunday to attend church.  His father had the General Store open up for that reason.  This is the short version, Perry could tell and embellish the story much better.  He had many stories to share.

Perry loved Westerns, (John Wayne was his idle),  Country Music, most especially Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells.  Every Sunday for many years Jeanne would put albums on the record player for him.  He enjoyed going to Sunset Park.  He loved trees, flowers, farm animals, ponies and horses, fishing, sales and auctions.  For many years, Perry and Jeanne would fry chicken for dinner in the backyard for family and friends on Sundays.  He so cherished his family, the friends who were "family", friends and associates.  Perry loved chocolates way too much.  He had nicknames for most people he had a close relationship.  This started way back to one of his dearest friends, "TC". Perry was a man with true grit.  In the end he said to "hang tough".

He is survived by his children, Barbara S. Phillips of Coatesville, PA, Ronald L. Phillips of Coatesville, PA, Perry V. Phillips (Jacqueline) of Honey Brook, PA, Herbert W. Phillips of Atglen, PA, K. Michael Phillips (Annette) Phillips of Coatesville, PA, and Kelly S. Phillips (fiancée, Dania Ojeda) of Coatesville, PA. 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 1 great, great grandson, and former daughters-in-law Susan Phillips and Charlotte Mullen, and several half-siblings.  Rose Ranck, Downingtown, PA, Shirley West, Ephrata, PA and Emory Phillips, Lititz, PA.

He was preceded in death by daughter, Debra A. Phillips, granddaughter, Amy Jean Phillips, great grandson, Ronald L Phillips, III, daughter-in-law, Pamela Jean Phillips, brothers, Edgar Phillips and Harold Phillips, half-brother, Parke W. Phillips, and special thoughts for half-sisters, Stella Hilton and Bertha Steffe, and a number of other half-siblings.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude's Hospital for Children Att. Memorial Donations, 570 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, TN  38105 or go online at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html%C2%A0