Carl Goss Phillipps

Carl Goss Phillipps, 74, of Nokomis, Florida went to sing God's heavenly choir on January 14, 2016. During the last three years, he fought a valiant fight with one of the most virulent forms of prostate cancer, growing stronger each day as his body grew weaker, and he was an inspiration to so many others who were affected by cancer. He died peacefully at Tidewell Venice Hospice House, surrounded by his family. Carl was a 5th generation native Washingtonian (DC) born to Carl Allyn and Doris Regina Phillipps on July 11, 1941. Carl attended GeorgetownPreparatory School and later StauntonMilitaryAcademy and AmericanUniversity. Upon graduation, Carl served in the U.S. Navy performing duties aboard a Grumman S-2, anti-submarine warfare patrol plane during the Cuban Missile crisis. In the summer of '60 he met the love of his life Vivianne Alleen Ross and they were married September 7, 1963 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Memorial Chapel. In the years they were married, they established homes in Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, Texas, and Florida. Carl's business took him around the world for 40 years, often traveling with Vivianne. Together they made footprints in the hearts of many trying to make the world a better place. Carl had many passions in life: First among them was spending time seeking adventure and creating memories with family and friends; whether through good conversation, camping, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, or cruising. Second, serving others in his communities brought great joy and a sense of purpose as a volunteer firefighter, paramedic, and sheriff's department trainer. Carl enjoyed helping the youth in our community through his involvement with the Buddy Break program, Junior Achievement and the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Third, Carl enjoyed helping care for those who were widowed or alone, driving them to appointments, being a friend or making repairs around their homes. He was a fierce and loyal friend and always had an eclectic repertoire of jokes, a contagious laugh, and a great sense of humor. Fourth, other passions included 4-wheeling in the desert in the ""BEAST"", his old converted International Scout, flying his gliders and airplanes, piloting his boats, and riding his motorcycle. Finally, in college, Carl used his deep and commanding voice along with his love and appreciation of music as a DJ for WHMC radio. The last thirty years he has used his Bass voice in many choirs, most recently the Church of the Palms in Sarasota. Carl had a fascination with epicurean delights, and was always trying new foods, tinkering with recipes or creating his own. In fact, one of the items on his ""bucket list"" was to create a cookbook. Unfortunately this book was never completed, so we will just have to accept the fact that his recipes for ""Boozy Balls"" and Chocolate chunk cookies will remain a mystery to those who were fortunate enough to savor them. Besides the many friends Carl has made over the years, he leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Vivianne Alleen Ross, daughters Shannon (Matt) Fairholm of Vermillion, SD and Patricia (Chuck) Heston of Tyler, TX, and four grandsons, Carl Fairholm, Benjamin Fairholm, Nathan Fairholm, and William Fairholm, all of Vermillion, SD, and close family friend Judith Bacon. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Doris Phillipps, and his sister Linda (Phillipps) Harley. Carl loved and lived life to the fullest and as the song goes, ""He did it, His way"". A service celebrating Carl's arrival at the place where all love and praise belongs to God, and where the music will never end, will be held on Monday, January 25th at 2PM at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carl's memory may be made to Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL34238.