Richard Lawrence Phillips

Richard Lawrence Phillips, Age 77, of Ozark, Missouri passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2011 in Springfield, Missouri. He was born June 4, 1934 in Sabetha, Kansas, the son of Joe and Thelma Leona (Brodrick) Phillips. He was united in marriage to Gail White on August 22, 1953 in Sabetha, Kansas. Richard served 23 years as Senior Chief in the U.S. Navy from March 1953 to March 1957 and from August 1959 to April 1976, stationed in California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Maine, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, Sicily, Japan, and Hong Kong. After retirement from the Navy, he worked at Boystown, Nebraska with Gail as family teachers for 4 1/2 years. They then retired to a home in the Ozarks near Mountain View, Missouri. Survivors include; his wife Gail of Ozark, daughter Vicki Cormier and husband Craig of Muskogee, Oklahoma, son Rick Phillips and wife Joan of Omaha, Nebraska, son Kevin Phillips and wife Candy of Nixa, Missouri, daughter Angela Harrison and husband Matt of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Fred, Bill, and Louie Phillips. Funeral services will be 11:30 A.M. Monday, June 27, 2011 in Adams Funeral Home, Ozark. Burial with full military honors will be in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:30 A.M. Monday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children"�s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.