Roy L. Phillips

Published 10:04 am Thursday, September 5, 2024

Roy L. Phillips

January 21, 1938 – August 28, 2024

Roy Phillips, age 86, passed peacefully Aug. 28, 2024, in Vancouver, Washington. He was born Jan. 21, 1938, to Reuel G. Phillips Sr. and Lotus Phillips in Shelbina, Missouri. They moved to Roseburg, Oregon, in 1947. He had an older brother, Reuel G. Phillips Jr., who preceded him in death.Roy graduated from Roseburg High School in 1956, and went on to get a master’s degree in English at the University of Oregon. Roy belonged to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at UO. He traveled to the 1958 Rose Bowl with his fraternity brothers, some who were on the Duck football team.Roy taught English classes at South Eugene High School in Eugene and at Redmond High School in Oregon. He taught college prep writing classes at Redmond High. Several of his former students returned to thank him for preparing them for college.Roy was a leader of a jazz band in Roseburg when he was in high school, they played statewide. He played the flute and alto saxophone. Roy spent much of his adult life in Central Oregon where he loved the outdoors. He became an amateur pictographer, studying Native American history and rock writings. Roy enjoyed fishing, hiking, bird watching and hunting. He was also an amateur cartoonist, amusing his friends and family with his drawings.

Roy is survived by his daughter Suzanne Penegor, his stepchildren Susan Thompson, Jolene Redmon,

Julia Brown, Diane Overbay, Annette Rollins, Janet Abbott, Brian Baker, Shannon Dickson and his former

wives Lorna Phillips and Marie Jones.

His celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m., Sept. 21, 2024, at Wilson’s Chapel Of Roses in Roseburg,

Oregon.