May 16, 2008 11:24 pm
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Charles Kenneth Phillips, Jr., 69, of Warner, passed away Thursday morning, May 15, 2008 at his residence. He was born July 17, 1938 in Walters, OK to Charles Kenneth Phillips, Sr. and Artie Lorea (Thomas) Phillips.
As a youngster, Charles buckled skates for money to go to the movies, where he would spend all day Saturday watching westerns. Until his death his passion was watching westerns, John Wayne being his favorite.
Charles started working in a flower shop when he was 12 years old. He owned and operated flower shops in Checotah and Carnegie, OK. Charles also worked many years at Lakeland Florist in Muskogee as well as a police officer in Checotah where he helped establish the first Old Settler’s Day.
Charles owned and operated grocery stores in Keefeton and Martin for 10 years. The store in Martin was converted into a saddle shop, and eventually added tractors and farm equipment to his inventory.
He was always a great trader, willing to give the shirt off his back, but in a trade he was all business. He learned his skills from his grandfather, Thomas where he spent the summers when he was a boy.
Charles never gave up on living. He always said he was luckier than his wife, Mona, because he had two good women in his life and she had only one good man.
In the dance of life he had many things he loved, auctions being his passion. From junk to tractors, he loved the auctions, and he loved the people. Charles enjoyed the outdoors, from gardening to bottle feeding his baby calves, as well as tinkering around the farm. He also enjoyed Warner High School girls basketball and Connors State girls basketball.
Above all, Charles enjoyed the time he spent with his family. He will be well remembered and missed by all.
Charles is survived by his wife of 31 years, Mona Edwards Phillips; three children, Angela Dawn Lietch and husband Steve, Charles “Chuck” Kenneth Phillips III, and Glenna Kay Lewis and husband Johnny; six grandchildren, Amy Swimmer and husband Joe, Amanda Kauk, Charles Kenneth Phillips IV, Diamond Lewis, Victoria Lewis, Brandon Lewis, and Patrick Lietch; two great grandchildren, Merci Swimmer and Landon Kenneth Phillips; mother, Artie Lorea Phillips and one sister, Wanda Martin.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Frankie Jean Chapman Phillips, son, Gregory Wayne Phillips and father Charles Kenneth Phillips, Sr.
A funeral service will be 10:00 am, Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Warner First Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery with Chuck Phillips, Joe Swimmer, Steve Lietch, Jimmy Chambers, Brown Chesser and Johnny Lewis serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Howard, Brent Edwards, Timothy Ary and Rick Hammonds.
The family has entrusted Bradley Family Funeral Service of Muskogee with the arrangements.
Friends may send condolences to the family on the web page www.bradleyfuneralservice.com.
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