Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

A memorial service for former resident Howard Kenneth Phillips will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at the Haines ANB Hall, followed by graveside services at Jones Point and a luncheon at the hall.

Phillips died unexpectedly Oct. 1 in his Juneau home. An autopsy report is pending. He had lived in the capital city for about 20 years.

Phillips was born in Haines on Nov. 24, 1955 to Paul Eli and Daisy Phillips. As a child he fished, picked berries, played basketball and liked Native dancing. "He was really happy and outgoing," said brother John Phillips.

Phillips graduated from Haines High School in 1974 and served in the Alaska National Guard with the Fourth Battalion from 1979 to 1985 when he was honorably discharged. He also attended college for a year in Port Angeles in 1976.

In Juneau Phillips worked at Foodland before it became A&P, and at Kmart for a year.

Phillips was a member of the Killer Whale House of Klukwan’s Kaagwaantaan clan. He enjoyed Tlingit dancing with mother Daisy and the Haines Gei Sun Dancers, as well as family visits.

"He was a very smart guy. Everybody in the family said he was the most knowledgeable of the children about Tlingit traditions," said Mike Case, Phillips’ brother-in law.

Phillips was a member of ANB Camp 5, the Sons of American Legion Post 12, and the Haines Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by children Natasha Phillips and Jeremy Willard and by three grandchildren all of Juneau; brothers Paul, Fred, Eli and John of Juneau; sisters Flora Beierly of Juneau, Vivian Taylor of Anchorage, and Nancy Phillips of Saint Mary’s and by numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five infant brothers; sisters Pauline Rose Case of Haines and Virginia Kinsey of Sitka; aunt Mary Choate of Klukwan; grandniece Cynthia Marie Phillips and niece Ambrosia Phillips of Juneau.

Memorial services were held Tuesday at the Juneau Tlingit & Haida Community Center.

Cards and memorial donations may be sent to John Phillips, P.O. Box 22241, Juneau 99802.