Earnest Ryan Phillips, age 64, a resident of Fort Scott, KS, and more recently of Lake Frances, Redfield, KS, died Monday, April 29, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO.
Ryan was born July 2, 1954, in Wellington, KS, the son of Ernest Phillips and Hazel Lemon Phillips. He graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree.
He married Shannon Petty on May 31, 1980. She preceded him in death on July 8, 2004. He married Kathleen Miller Hermreck on June 28, 2008.
Ryan was career military having served 21 years in the Air Force and Marine Corp.
He was a member of the Community Christian Church. He loved to fish, hunt and follow Cardinal baseball. His passion was to witness about Jesus to anyone around him especially children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Kate, of the home; a son, James Ryan Phillips, Tulsa, OK; two daughters, Sarah Schilling, Broomfield, CO, and Laura Fraley, Lenexa, KS; three step-sons, Gene Hermreck, Levi Hermreck and John Hermreck; two step-daughters, Jessica Zillner and Amy Sitler. Also surviving are three sisters, Norma Jean Martin, Arkansas City, KS, Vicky Hernandez, Wichita, KS and Carolyn Hain, Wellington, KS; 24 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter.
In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Joshua Phillips.
Rev. Kevin Moyers assisted by Tim Woodring will conduct funeral services at 11:30 A.M. Friday in the Community Christian Church.
Burial will follow in U. S. National Cemetery with Military Honors.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Community Christian Church and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.