LARNED – Gerald  LeClair Phillips, 77, died March 27 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.  Born January 15, 1936, at Salt Lake City, Utah, he was the son of Blain Henry and Meriba June (Meik) Phillips. A lifetime area resident, he was a Special Education Teacher for Tri County Services for 20 years.
He belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served in a church mission in Uruguay, South America.
Mr. Phillips served in the U.S. Army for 27 years, retiring as a CW3. He also served in the Vietnam War.
He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts of America, where he received the Silver Beaver Award and was a big advocate for the Special Olympics.
On May 4, 1960, he married Maria Hilda Arriola Phillips at Salt Lake City, Utah.  She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Gerald Blain and Mark David, both of Larned; two daughters, Crystal Kim Phillips, Larned, and Rachael Lynn Phillips, Taylorsville, Utah; a sister, Jaquelin Worthen, Henderson, Nev.; a brother, Warren Stanley, Bountiful, Utah; eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son, Andrew LeClair Phillips, and a daughter-in-law, Cindy Phillips.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned, with Bishop Greg Perez presiding.  
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned.  Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned.
Memorials may be sent to Arrowhead West, Dodge City, in care of the mortuary.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwirth Mortuary
P.O. Box 477
Larned, KS 67550
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 29, 2013