William Ray "Bill" Phillips

Graveside services for William Ray “Bill” Phillips, 75, of Gladewater will be held 3:00 PM Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Rosewood Park Cemetery in Longview, Texas, with burial following services under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater. Bill passed away Sunday, March 14th, 2021, in Longview after a lengthy illness.

Bill was born January 1, 1946 in Dallas, Texas to the late Claude Jackson Phillips and Oneida Floye Meisenheimer Phillips. He was the youngest and only son of six children. Bill enjoyed fishing, attending NHRA drag racing, racing motorcycles at the flat track, and spending time with his family and friends. He was a Truck Driver for Central Freight until 1984 when he and his late wife Joan, moved his family from Irving, Texas to East Texas for a slower paced life. He then drove for Fed Ex Freight before retiring in 2005. Bill loved his family and was continually active in his son’s lives, coaching their sports teams, being a mentor. He spent many days at his sons’ businesses after he retired, sharing his wealth of knowledge, helping where he could and learning new techniques. Bill was a great father, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend. He will not soon be forgotten by those he leaves behind.

Bill is survived by three sons Dwayne Phillips and wife Kelly of Fort Worth, Texas; Gary Phillips and wife Jody of Gladewater, Texas; and Greg Phillips and wife Pam of Flint, Texas; three sisters Linda James, Patricia Herman and Alice Williams; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren as well as many other loving family members and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joan, and two sisters Ann Fry and Mary Bradley.