Former Kingfisher Mayor Roger Phillips, 82, died Dec. 2, 2020 in Kingfisher.

A resident of Kingfisher since 1979, he came here with his young family as a telephone cable installer for Stake Construction Co. and made this his permanent home.

He became involved in Kingfisher civic matters in addition to his professional work and was elected to the Kingfisher City Commission in 1988, serving until 1996. He was appointed mayor in 1998, following the death of Mayor Vernie Snow, serving in that position until 2000.

Steve Richards, another longtime former mayor who recently retired from public office, served with Phillips as a newly-elected commissioner.

“I was younger when I first got on there and Roger as the mayor was a mentor to me and helped me learn about city operations and how important our jobs were,” Richards said.

“Roger was one who cared deeply about the city and wanted to help so much in every way.

“He followed everything that went on at every level of city operations and continued to do that even after he left office.

“Roger also understood the importance of the city supporting local businesses as much as possible and also taught me the importance of getting those is crossed and i’s dotted, otherwise you’re not doing your job correctly.

“Roger has always been a friend as well as a fellow commissioner and mayor and he will be greatly missed.”

Some others who served the city during Phillips’ tenure include Hallo Jean Shultz as city clerk, Chip Eeds and then Paul Schulte as city attorneys, and George Gooden and David Dunn as commissioners, Richards said.

Phillips was born July 13, 1938, in Miller, S.D., to Claude and Bertha Phillips, the 14th of 16 children. He and Sandy Estes were married Feb. 3, 1963.

After serving in the U.S. Army, he took a position with Stake Construction and traveled the country with his young family, installing telephone cable, before settling in Kingfisher in 1979.

He later established Phillips Ditching and Excavating, which he operated for many years.

He was an active member of the Kingfisher Elks Lodge.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Kingfisher United Methodist Church with Rev, Patrick McPherson officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home, followed by burial in the Kingfisher Cemetery.

Survivors include four sons, Michael and wife Sharla of Guthrie; John and wife Angie of Kingfisher, and James and wife Margaret of Kingfisher; Rodney Phillips of Kingfisher; siblings, Erma Phillips-Woodruff of South Dakota, Mona Phillips-Brock of Washington, Lora Phillips-Stoudt of Washington, and brother Donald Phillips of Oregon; 11 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

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