Vernon Lee Phillips, 76 year old Altus resident and former resident of Roosevelt and Snyder, passed away early Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus. Vernon Lee was born at the weight of four pounds at the family home in Cold Springs, Oklahoma on February 22, 1940 to his parents Walter Lee Phillips and Elsie Lee (Decker) Phillips.

At such a low birth weight the family had to find ways to keep him warm. The best method as it turned out was to use a shoebox and set him inside it and put him on an open oven door which helped keep tiny Vernon Lee warm. Vernon Lee turned out to be just fine and graduated class of 1958 from Roosevelt High School. In 1962 he joined the United States Air Force and served tours in Turkey and Germany during the Vietnam War in communications and received an honorable discharge for his service to his country.

He married Brenda Bagley on July 26, 1985 in Vernon, Texas and they enjoyed 31 years of marriage together. He worked for the Civil Service at the Altus Air Force Base as a Fire Fighter Crew Chief and he earned numerous certificates in Fire Fighter courses over the years. He also worked as roughneck in the oil fields in the Gulf and in Elk City. He worked as a welder for the family business in Roosevelt, Phillips Welding, for many years. Vernon Lee was a longtime member of the Thomas Street Church of Christ until it burned down and then he was a member of the Tamarack Road Church of Christ. In his spare time, Vernon Lee enjoyed being active in the Fire Fighters Pinochle Club and he often enjoyed hunting, camping and fishing. He was a huge George Jones fan and his favorite sports teams were the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Braves, but most of all Vernon Lee enjoyed pulling pranks and pester others, and spending time with his family.

Preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Beulah Davis and Pauline Adams; Vernon Lee is survived by his wife Brenda of the home; two sons, Larry Dee Phillips of Oklahoma City; and Charles Lee Phillips and wife Becky of Altus; one daughter Amber Dawn Campos and husband Joey of Altus; three stepchildren, Amy Melton and husband Beau of North Carolina; Brady Hester; and Jimmy Hester both of Altus; one brother, Larry Joe Phillips and wife Sandra of Roosevelt; one sister Wilma Joyce Blevins of Blair; numerous grandchildren with one special grandchild on the way; three great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, other family members, and many friends.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, July 30, 2016 at the Tamarack Road Church of Christ with Kyle Wright officiating. Interment will follow at the Roosevelt Cemetery in Roosevelt, Oklahoma with Military Honors rendered by the United States Air Force.