David T. Phillips

After a brief illness, David T. Phillips of Royal City died on June 14, 2011 surrounded by family at his bedside. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 12, 1943 to Louis and Doris Phillips of Lehi, Utah. 

When Mr. Phillips was 18 months old, the family moved to Parma, Idaho to begin a family farm. As a youth he attended the Parma public schools, where he excelled in athletics.

Mr. Phillips played football, basketball, baseball, and wrestled. As a senior, he received the Outstanding Athlete Award. Upon graduation in 1962, he accepted a scholarship to play football at Ricks College in southern Idaho.

Mr. Phillips served an LDS Mission to the eastern states. After his mission he joined the National Guard.  On the same day he enlisted in the National Guard he went on his first date with Lora Jo Stoker, who would later become his wife. 

The Phillips were married on December 30, 1966 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They made their home in Parma, where they worked on the family farm with his father and brother. 

After farming in Parma for ten years, Mr. Phillips and his brother, W. Taylor (Spud) Phillips moved their families to Royal City, where they continued to farm.

In November 1985, Mr. Phillips began working for the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District, where he was employed until the time of his death. He worked as ditch rider, relief rider, and machine operator.

Mr. Phillips is a former member of the Grant County Fair Board and was a dedicated Republican who voted regularly with conviction. He was active in his church, faithfully serving many callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Most important to him, though, was his role as husband and father.  

Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife, Lora Jo, his seven children: Joseph of Glennallen, AK, Lee (Ashly) of Corona, CA, Brad (Sara) of Roscoe, IL, Alison (Mike) Preas of Bountiful, UT, Melissa (Robert) Fehrenbacker of Idaho Falls, ID, Rusty of Arleta, CA, and Ryan of Provo, UT, fourteen grandchildren, his brothers, Russell Phillips of Parma, ID and W. Taylor Phillips of Kennewick, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Phillips was preceded in death by his parents, a son, and a grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24,  at the LDS church building at Royal Camp. A viewing will be held the previous evening at the same location, between 7- 8:30 p.m. and from 3 p.m. -  4:15 p.m. on Friday before the services.

Burial and concluding services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, in the Lower Boise Cemetery in Parma.