Ellis Bradley 'Brad' Phillips, 92

Ellis Bradley "Brad" Phillips, 92, died of natural causes Tuesday, April 28, 2009. He was a lifetime resident of Libby and one of the last lumber barons. Brad was born Sept. 22, 1916, in Moore to Ellis and Bessie Noel Phillips. He graduated from Libby High School in 1935 and played on the 1932 state football championship team.

In 1943, he married Isabelle Shipman. During World War II, Brad served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a navigator. When his B 24 was shot down in Austria, he was held POW for one year until liberation by General Patton.

After the war, he returned to Libby and continued working for J. Neils Lumber Co. After more than 45 years with the company he retired from (then) St. Regis Paper Co., as lumber production manager.

He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, hiking the Cabinet Mountains, and fly-fishing the Kootenai River. He was a loyal supporter of local sports and never missed one of his sons' games. Brad was involved in construction of the ski hill on Turner Mountain, the Cabinet View Golf Course, and served on the board of St. John's Lutheran Hospital.

He married Joan Gruber on July 13, 1979. They spent many years skiing, hiking, gardening and traveling.

Brad was preceded in death by Isabelle in 1975; and Joan in 2008.

Survivors include children, Greg Phillips and Carol of Kalispell, Byron Phillips and Linda of Libby, and Dale Phillips of Omak, Wash.; stepchildren, Terri Gruber of Spokane, Cathy Anderson and Jim of Boise, Idaho, Roger Gruber of Havre, and Jeff and Doreen Gruber of Libby; 17 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 4, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby. Interment will be after the ceremony.

Memorials may be made to the Libby VFW.

Local arrangements are by Schnackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.