Carl Phillips

Carl Raymond Phillips

July 3, 1927 -- August 25, 2018

Carl was born July 3, 1927 in Sheridan, WY to Ruth (Hammontree) and Herb "Case" Phillips. He was the oldest of 3 children. As a child, his family lived in the Sayle area in Powder River County. He stayed with his Grandmother in Sheridan to start grade school until his Grandfather passed away. The following year he attended St. Labre in Ashland, he also had some cousins attend there at the same time. He went to school on Indian Creek and graduated from 8th grade on Elk Creek.

He stayed with his Grandmother, in Sheridan, WY until he graduated in 1945 from high school. He delivered newspapers to earn spending money. Carl worked at his uncle, Joe Burris's, filling station for a short time, for ranches and the forest service.

In the summer of 1949 he bought a Piper Cub J3 airplane and later traded it to Bob McCurdy in 1952 for some machinery.

Carl liked to tell stories about how he fell in love with Pat Norwood when he saw her chopping wood. They married December 8, 1951 in Nebraska. They ran the ranch on Elk Creek for his folks until they bought it in 1961. He broke his leg when a horse fell on him in 1954 and couldn't put up ice that winter, so he put up snow! In March of 1955, they had a daughter, Gaylene.

Carl was the Bottles School clerk for several years, served on the Fair Board for 5 years, and was a member of Eastern Star and Mason's. At times Carl cooked for the Forest Service fire crews and was a fire spotter.

He cut and sawed enough of his own lumber to build his own 70 x 120 machine shed (tall enough to accommodate all the machinery they had), chicken house, corrals and cattle sheds.

He lived on Elk Creek since 1940 and Pat since 1951 and made the difficult decision to sell it in 2005 and move to Home Creek.

He enjoyed photography, traveling, fishing, camping, antiques, animals, cards and dancing. It has been said that he was a sweet humble man who could float across the dance floor in his boots, like gravity had no hold on him. Sometimes they would come home from dances and divide the trip between 4 wheel drive and a snow machine. Carl and Pat took many trips, including Niagara Falls (with friends), FL, and CA and trips to see fall colors. Gaylene and Carl took many trips, especially enjoying fall colors, a trip to AZ as Carl wanted to see cactus bloom and Carl was Gaylene's companion on many of her art shows and Quick Draws. Tim and Carl ranched together, hunted together, fished together and shared many enjoyable adventures.

ABOVE ALL- Carl enjoyed his family, his wife, daughter and son in law, he was so proud and adored all his grandchildren, they always brought a smile. They spent wonderful times in the mountains fishing, hiking, exploring, playing cards and enjoying life.

Blaine and Papa especially enjoyed their shared interest in antiques, and walking in the hills hunting for fossils and arrowheads.

Stacey and Papa loved finding rocks, picking flowers, camping and fishing. Papa would eat all of the fish that Stacey caught.

Lanissa loved playing cards, dancing and fishing with Papa. When she was little she always fished on his license and Papa threatened that she would have to get her own license beings since she caught more than her share of his limit, which was often!

Carl used to bring different colored dirt to the house for him and Gaylene to make mud pies when she was little.

Making homemade ice cream was special as a child. It has been a tradition passed on to his wife, daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Licking the dasher has been a special tradition with Carl.

The Grandchildren pretty much got to do whatever they wanted. Carl was good at planning mischievous pranks, but he also fell for April Fool's jokes and pay backs, not just from family, but even from friends and neighbors. Many people have received anonymous personal letters about something they had done.

Carl is proceeded in death by his parents, Ruth and Case Phillips, his brother Alvin and sister Audrey. He will be missed by his family; his wife Patricia Phillips, daughter Gaylene Fortner and Tim Fortner, grandchildren; Blaine Fortner & children Jade, Kyra, & Kanyon (Tammy, Ben, Keoni), Stacey Fortner, wife Lacey & sons Lucas & Dillon, and Lanissa Fortner, husband Cody Delaware & children Tavian and Tierney.