Brian Keith Phillips, 62, of Bridgeville, lost his 12-year battle with bladder cancer on April 7, 2019 at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Rosa.

Brian was born to Calvin and Lois Phillips in Eureka on January 11, 1957. He was the youngest of 3 children. He attended school in Fortuna, and graduated from Fortuna Union High School in 1975. Brian was active in high school athletics and was the vice-president of his senior class.

He attended College of the Redwoods and then Sacramento State University, where he obtained his Bachelors Degree in 1980.

After college, Brian followed his father’s career path for a brief time with the “phone company,” before he settled into the drinking water industry. He worked for 17 years at Humboldt Community Services District in Cutten. He then served as General Manager at Millview Water District in Ukiah for five years. Brian found his best professional fit, and finished his career with nearly 20 years at Rural Community Assistance Corporation as the Regional Manager for Environmental Programs for California and Nevada.

Brian married Corrin Hall of Eureka in 1984. Daughter Kathryn (Katie) Phillips was born in 1989. Brian and Corrin divorced in 1995.

As the vice president of his high school class, Brian had the opportunity to scope out single classmates while planning his 20-year high school reunion. He decided that Terry Coleman — with a good job and 2 sons — was just the woman he was looking for. He was so persistent and charming that they married a year later at the Scotia Inn — the site of the reunion ice-breaker and where they met.

Brian enjoyed hunting, fishing, diving, riding his ATV and using his tractor. Brian loved blue Corvettes, Taurus SHOs and driving both vehicles on the Sonoma Speedway, Highway 20 and Highway 36. (That particular passion earned him the nickname “Speedracer.”) He was proud to be a third generation Mason and to have served many years on the Fortuna Planning Commission. The greatest joy in his life came with the fulfillment of his dream to reside on “the ranch” near Bridgeville — which was purchased by his great-grandparents in 1913. Brian and wife Terry purchased and moved onto the ranch in 2013.

Brian is survived by his wife, Terry Coleman Phillips, Bridgeville, his stepson Robert Limon, (Boupha) of Fortuna, Stepson Alan Coleman (Alissa) of Ukiah, and daughter Kathryn Phillips of Eureka. He is also survived by the grandchildren who lit his life like the fireworks they are: Kallia Yang, Jayden Limon, Mako Limon, Mylee Coleman, Dominick Phillips-Reman, and Lucas Coleman. He is also survived by his uncle Rodney Phillips, (Darlene) of Eureka, his sisters Corrinne Jensen, Washington, and Kathy Lybeck, Sacramento, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

Brian was planning a Living Celebration of Life (Living Funeral) at the ranch on June 8 from noon to 6 p.m. He said that if he was going to pay for a party where people were going to talk about him, he wanted to be there! He also had elaborate plans for a time capsule to be buried on the ranch (so that when he is cloned from his ashes in a thousand years, he will have his stuff). The Celebration of Life will continue as planned by Brian. Friends and family are invited, and asked to RSVP to Terry. Time capsule contributions of letters, written memories, photos or tiny trinkets are welcomed.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Brian Phillips’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.