Phil Harris

Phil Harris was born in July 1949 in Oklahoma and passed away May 3, 2024 in Arizona surrounded by his wife and children.  He was 74 years old.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Cynthia, his son Phillip (Kristin and children Jacob, Jackson, Casey and Madison) and his daughter Lindsay (Kevin and child Savannah) as well as nieces Susanne, Jennifer, and Courtney and nephews Timothy, Jeffrey and Christopher.

He is preceded in death by his father Charles, his mother Ruby and his brother Chuck. 

Phil grew up in Ohio and was a standout school athlete in football, basketball and track. He was an avid singer and well-known for being creative and artistic. 

After graduating from high school, Phil enlisted in the Army, serving in missile defense and spent a year stationed in South Korea during Vietnam War.

Upon his return to the States, Phil reconnected with Cindy, and they were married. After spending their first few years as newlyweds, they welcomed their son, Phillip, and the family of three relocated to Colorado. Soon after, Lindsay was born. 

Phil spent many years in the design and sales of office furniture, becoming an independent manufacturers' representative. He later transitioned his talent to kitchen and bath design and sales in his years leading up to retirement.

Phil's last years were spent with Cindy in Arizona where he enjoyed time with his family while navigating the challenges of progressing dementia and myasthenia gravis.

In his life, Phil was perhaps best known for his over-the-top ideas and exceptional artistic capability.  He had a treasure trove of random information and happily shared it with friends and family and his morning coffee crew. Phil was known for being creative and thinking outside the box. A master with Styrofoam, he could create wondrous worlds for Halloween haunted houses, Christmas celebrations, high school theatrical plays, community theater, and church performances. He was especially proud of the end-of-season slide show presentations that he and Cindy produced for the local swim team that was such an important part of his children's lives.

Beyond his creative contributions, Phil was involved in his local church through choir, serving on the building committee and serving as trustee for a number of years. 

He is remembered throughout the communities in which he lived and loved by the generations he touched. 

Plans for a Celebration of Life in Colorado will be finalized in the coming weeks.