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James Delbert Phillips, long-time Collinsville resident, passed away at his Collinsville home on December 31, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Phillips, daughter and son-in-law Angela and Matthew York, of Collinsville, and son Brent Phillips of Lake City, Colorado, plus granddaughter Kali Sowards and her family, and grandson Braden York. Kali and Matt blessed Jim with two great grandchildren, Rileigh and Reagan, who brought much joy to Jim during his elder years. Jim is also survived by his sister, Kathleen Scott, and and her family.
Jim was born in Tulsa at Hillcrest Hospital on January 15, 1944, to parents Delbert and Rowena Phillips. Delbert was in the U.S. Army, and Rowena was living in Swink, Colorado. Her parents Elmer and Ethyl Miller lived in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and Rowena was visiting with them at the birthing.
After completing his military service, Delbert ultimately became employed in the utility business, culminating his career with Public Service Company in Oologah, Oklahoma. After graduating from Collinsville High School, son James followed in his footsteps, making a career in the utility business first with Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative in Collinsville, and then Gunnison County Electric in Gunnison, Colorado. Bonnie and Jim lived for the last 17 years primarily in Lake City, Colorado, but have never forgotten their roots and friends in Collinsville, and retained a second home there.
Jim and Bonnie were married in Collinsville on September 5, 1964. That date was typically the opening day of Dove hunting season, which created challenges celebrating their anniversary as Jim was an avid dove hunter. The first anniversary celebration was a candlelight dinner featuring roast dove that he shot earlier that day.
James had many hobbies which resulted in fishing partners, hunting pals, biking buddies. He and Bonnie were also involved in a Bow Hunting club in Collinsville, but probably his main "hobby" was playing drums. If you went to many sock-hops in the 1960's sponsored by KELI, you were familiar with Dennis and the Devons, and Jim was the one making the drums come alive. Jim also played later with current Collinsville mayor Neal York in a country and western group popular with locals.
Jim was also an avid ham radio operator, and if you answered a call from KD5CP, you were talking to Jim. Jim put an extension on a telephone pole to reach the highest altitude legal for his antennae, and a neighbor asked Jim "are you trying to talk to the Moon?" If he could have, he would have!
Then in the mid-70's, Jim and Bonnie fell in love with Lake City, the family always spending every possible vacation day there. In 2002, when Jim got a job offer with Gunnison County Electric, it was like a dream come true. Jim and Bonnie were blessed to be able to purchase the family home that Bonnie's dad Neil York had built in Lake City, Colorado, and lived there while Jim worked in Gunnison.
The last few years of Jim's life were challenging, with a number of health issues. After spending time in Lake City during the summer of 2018, however, Jim needed a lower elevation due to his worsening health. He fought a courageous battle since 2014 with strokes, heart disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and kidney failure. His final days involved hospice care at the Collinsville home, surrounded by the love of his family.
The Phillips family would welcome cards at P.O. Box 247, Collinsville, OK 74021.
Memorial service will be held at Windy Point on Slumgullion Pass in early spring near Lake City, Colorado, with interment in the local Lake City cemetery. Jim enjoyed a good joke and never missed an opportunity to fire off a good punch line. He was cracking jokes up to the last day. He will be sorely missed.
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