Vigen Memorial Home obituary - Muril Dee Phillips, 78, Keokuk

Muril Dee Phillips, 78, of Keokuk died Wednesday, September 3, 2019.
He was born on August 20, 1941 in Carthage, IL the son of Glen and Faye Howell Phillips. On November 20, 1962 he was united in marriage to Darnetta Wilson in Scottsdale, AZ. She preceded him in death on March 23, 2017.

Muril joined the Navy in 1958 where he earned his high school diploma as well as an Associate Degree. He proudly served in Vietnam as a member of HAL-3 (Seawolf) from 1969-1970. Muril retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 1978.
After retiring from the Navy, he worked as a roofing consultant in the Los Angeles area. The family moved back to Keokuk after a forty-five minute drive took three and a half hours in 1986.
Muril had been employed by Hubinger and retired from Roquette in 2003.
He was a member of the Grain Mill Union.
He liked to play computer hide and seek games, woodworking, horse racing and gambling. Depending on which duty station he was stationed at, he also enjoyed golfing, scuba diving, boating and fishing, (he was always after that one salmon), bowling, shooting pool, dune bugging, dirt bike and motorcycle riding.

Muril loved spending time with his rather large, extended family, especially his two uncles, Francis (Frank) and Henry (Hank) Howell. He will be greatly missed by those that loved him.
He is survived by his loyal four legged companion, Bear, one daughter, Tammy Phillips of Keokuk, one sister, Janet Gipe (Wilber “Sam”) Hall, two brothers, Harvey “Skip” (Bette Brooks) Gipe, Jr., and Jerry (J.C.) Gipe, brother-in-law, Gordon Wilson, one aunt, Darlene Fuller, one aunt-in-law, Gwen Howell and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is also preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Faye Gipe, his father Glen Phillips, two brothers, Tommy and Steve Gipe and several aunts, and uncles.
Visitation will be held after 1 p.m., Monday, September 9 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA with the family meeting with friends from 5 -7 p.m.
A graveside service with military rites will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 10 at the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lee County Hospice.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vigenmemorialhome.com