Obituary: Cliff Phillips

Cliff Phillips

Cliff Phillips

Called to Heaven by God and his wife of nearly 68 years, Norma, Clifford Eugene Phillips stopped living on September 22, 2021. Born in Delta, Iowa, 1933, to Lawrence and Mabel (Morrison) Phillips, moved to Grinnell, Iowa, worked construction at the local Chevrolet and Ford dealerships until the age of 20 when he met Norma Lou Sparks in 1953. They were engaged only a few short months until Norma was out of high school, married and traveled west to Manhattan Beach, California and eventually Lompoc, California where they would spend 20 years, raising their three children, Randy Phillips, Tamie Meckling and Tina Harris. Cliff immediately was employed with Beattie Motors/Ford as a service manager where he would work for over 20 years.

He was skilled, and could fix or build anything, he was kind, very generous and always a quick come back to make people smile and laugh, even if he was in pain and uncomfortable. New adventures called Cliff and Norma in 1976. While vacationing in Arizona, an opportunity to purchase a 2.5-acre marina along the Colorado River with restaurant and bar in Topock, Arizona, presented itself. The deal was sealed on a bar napkin. In 1997 they were the proud owners of the Topock Marina on Route 66 and the Colorado river. Diving into the business and the community of Golden Shores, Arizona, Cliff was quickly appointed as Mayor of Topock. The next 21 years would prove to be challenging and rewarding.

In 1998 they sold the marina, sold their home and for more than two years traveled the United States in a 40-foot Class A motorhome. In 2000 they settled in Prescott, Arizona near their two daughters, where they would build their dream home on the 5th hole of Prescott Lakes Golf and Country Club. Cliff enjoyed golfing and continued to build, fix and repair for anyone who asked as he liked keeping busy and helping others. Eventually, slowing down, he accepted a two day a week volunteer position with Yavapai Regional Medical Hospital where he drove a golf cart picking people up in the parking lot to take them to the front entrance. He loved visiting with people and liked “going to work”.

Cliff was Blessed with 3 children, Randy Phillips, Tamie Meckling and Tina Harris; 5 grandchildren, Joshua Phillips, Kelly Hain, Cory O’Hara, Patrick O’Hara and Rees Meckling; 11 great-grandchildren, Ryder, Scout and Hawk, Rhett, Remy, Elet and Sutton, Patrick III, and Sawyer, Tristan and Trace. The family will celebrate Cliff and Norma’s incredible lives at our annual family reunion in Topock, Arizona 2022.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hampton Funeral Home.

Information was provided by Hampton Funeral Home.


Donate Report a Typo Contact
Most Read