This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marysday Surnames: Phillips, Knox, Fuller, McCurry, Howard, Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oregon.counties.lincoln/5649/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The News Times, Newport, OR 97365 Posted: Wednesday, Nov 17th, 2010 Ronald Eugene Phillips Ronald Eugene Phillips, of Newport, Ore., died of natural causes on Nov. 7 at his home. He was born May 27, 1930 to Ray Edward Phillips and Opal Dolly Knox in Aspen, Colo. He hitchhiked to Oregon in 1949, and after several trips back and forth to Colorado, he made Newport his permanent home in 1957. He met his wife, Roberta Ann Fuller, in Colorado, and after a brief courtship, they were married in Newport on May 31, 1957. They raised four children, Richard, Stacey, Ray, and Roger. He was a lifelong outdoorsman, businessman, community booster, volunteer, and friend to all who knew him. He was one of the founding members of Newport Pacific Corporation, which owns and operates the Mo's Restaurants in Lincoln City, Florence and Cannon Beach. He served on the board of directors of the corporation until his death, after retiring as general manager in 1996. He had a long career at KNPT radio as station manager, news director, reporter and disc jockey, and also served as a weekly newspaper editor. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era. He was a tireless booster of his adopted hometown of Newport and served a variety of roles within the community, including chamber of commerce president, Oregon Coast Association president, three-time Loyalty Day chairman, and three-time chair of the Newport High School Budget Committee. He also served on numerous boards involved in natural resources and economic development. He loved hunting, fishing and camping and looked forward to his annual hunting trips to Eastern Oregon and Idaho. He particularly loved hunting mule deer, which he pursued for more than 60 years in Colorado, Oregon and Idaho. His love of the outdoors was passed on to his children and grandchildren, who were all raised to be both competent and confident in the woods, whether casting for trout in a stream or lake, shooting a rifle, hunting game, or riding a motorcycle or ATV. None came away without bumps, scrapes and bruises, but all survived with great stories to tell around the next campfire. He was a mentor to all, not just family members, and friends who joined his outings were treated as extended family. He was also a dedicated fan of the Oregon State University Beavers, but despite that, raised two University of Oregon graduates and a family brimming with Ducks. Although being vastly outnumbered, he never wavered in his allegiance to the Beavers, even having an Oregon State flag mounted on the hospital bed, in which he spent his last days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Opal Knox, and brothers Darrell (Joe) McCurry and William McCurry. He is survived by children, Richard (Sue) of Phoenix, Ore., Stacey (Mark Howard) of Roseburg, Ray (Carmen) of Eugene, and Roger (Shelley) of Boise, Idaho; brothers, Larry Phillips of Anchorage, Alaska, and Jesse McCurry of Eugene; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 13, at Eureka Cemetery. Bateman Funeral Home in Newport handled the arrangements. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.