Ellis Christopher Phillips
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Craig resident, Ellis Christopher "Chris" Phillips died on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was 67. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Ellis Christopher Phillips was born the son of Ellis Clayton and Pearl Jane (Yoder) Phillips on August 17, 1952 in Lake Arrowhead, California. He spent his childhood and youth between various places in California and Rifle, Colorado. He graduated from Chico High School in Chico, California, with the class of 1971. Following high school, Chris honorably served his country with the United States Army. He served in Vietnam until 1972 when he was honorably discharged for hardship due to his father's death. In 1979, Chris married Leanne Wilson. To this union three children were born. Their marriage later ended in divorce in 1985. Chris was employed in various jobs including operating a service station and driving a truck with his cousin John Reynolds hauling swinging meat. Chris moved to Craig in 1975 where he helped work on the construction of the Craig and Hayden power plants. In 1979, he started working for Western Coal Carriers where he worked for 28 years pulling doubles from Seneca Coal Mine to the Hayden Power Plant. Western Col sold out to Pirate Trucking which later became Linx Trucking. Chris worked for them for almost 2 years before deciding to buy his own truck in 2006. Chris bought a tractor and belly dump and ran them for 2 years before he sold them and bought a tandem. He ran tandem from 2008 until he retired and sold his truck in 2018. He met Cora Ellen (Lewis) Roberts in 1985 when they dated briefly. In 1997, they met again and maintained a friendship until Cora was widowed in 1999. The couple married in 2000. When he wasn't working, Chris enjoyed reloading guns and regaling everyone with stories of his past. He was quite the jokester and enjoyed teasing people to get a laugh. His friends admired his humor because he was always fun to be around. Chris is survived by his wife, Cora Ellen "Cory" Phillips of Craig; three daughters: Shauna Marie Phillips of Rawlins, WY, Alicia Lee Phillips of Baraboo, WI and Tiffany Jane Phillips of Cumberland, MD; one step-daughter, Corine Olivia McEntee and husband Jason of Brentwood, CA; and two step-sons, Kenneth Anthony Roberts and spouse Dusty of Granbury, TX and John Lee Roberts of Ponderay, ID. Chris is further survived by five grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren and a host of extended family members and close friends. Chris was preceded in death by his parents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins.