Phillip Simpson Gillis

On Thursday, February 27, 2014 Phil was heralded by his Angels’ call. He was at peace in his home, with his wife, Jan, by his side. For many years, throughout Ketchum, Hailey and Mexico it was not unusual where you saw one, you saw the other. We celebrate in our hearts his new journey will be guided with love and light.
Phil grew up in Bend, Oregon with his parents, Janice & Gene Gillis, his brother and sister, Gene and Nadine. All of whom have predeceased him.

Phil was an adventurous, determined tike and proved to be an extraordinary individual of epic proportions, a true diamond in the rough. He was kind, lighthearted and a very ingenuous man of few words, a smile that would light up a room in an instant, and eyes that penetrated ones' soul.

Over the years, he was a man of unparalleled exponential talent accumulating a treasure trove of trophies and accolades for his many accomplishments. His self-discipline, independent and easy-going nature continued to assist him through his college years both scholastically and athletically. He graduated from the University of Washington, with his life-long friend, Jake Jacoby.

Every sport he entered into was challenged with an unprecedented depth of accomplishment. From his earliest years, he played football and skied simultaneously and conscientiously. He excelled in both sports to later play with the Redskins Team and ski with The US Ski Team. He was also successful as a golfer and tennis player. He was truly an accomplished athlete in every way, and always strove for perfection.

Regardless of all the records he set and accolades he received, his greatest joys and his greatest hearts’ fulfillment, his three daughters, Karen, Shauna and Kelley. He cherished each and every time he spent with them, whether it was with horses, dogs, skiing, traveling or just simply sharing a beer. The high point of his life was when they all came home for his 80th birthday. They were and always shall be the true loves of his life and his spirit.

In the late 60’s, for numerous years, he was the head bartender for the infamous “Pioneer Saloon” in Ketchum, Idaho. As bartender he’d avail his expertise for scoring football leagues and parlay his penchant for mixing cocktails. Many who came his way would say “he could make the best margaritas in town”! Being a humanitarian at heart, he’d always be willing to assist those at closing time, to assure their safe return to home.

He was an intellectual of civic and global proportions, yet thoughtful and reserved in expressing any opinion. His personality, there was no doubt, vibrant, demure, and honest to a “T”. He was always appreciative and unequivocally with sincere respect and integrity at every turn and had more than an ounce of humor. His warm-heartedness and quick-wit inevitably would express itself with his exclamatory “woohoo’s” and “yahoo’s” echoing in laughter upon all our ears. He held himself with the traditional high moral and ethical standards and did so with humility as he walked this path with dignity.

In his later years, Phil shared his time between Ketchum, Idaho and San Carlos, Mexico. During the summer months he enjoyed times shared with his daughter, Shauna and her husband, John, at his home or in Stanley. When he traveled to San Carlos he enjoyed the ocean, sharing time with his daughter, Karen, his son-in-law, Bill and a few special friends. During his winter sabbaticals Phil met Jan. As the years passed, hearts linked and they both knew as in life and love, their connection was beyond conventional realms. Just as the ocean is vast their hearts encompassed each other, totally.

He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life: enjoying his friends and family; watching football, walking on his path, reading his paper with a great cup of coffee, sitting by the water side, or on his porch or the end of the bar, having a beer. Upon retiring, he received his own plaque from Duffy & the staff embedded on the bar … Our Man, Phil Gillis.

There is no phrase more appropriate to say upon Phil’s journey in life, to encapsulate than, “Phil had three lives, three wives and three daughters.” And, as he walked his path in life’s corridor his passing was on his terms and in his time.

Phil may no longer be here in person yet his spirit shall always be a part of all our hearts, as we all were to his. He shall always live on in our memories of life. He is survived by his wife, Jan; his daughters, Karen, Shauna & Kelley; grandchildren: Kaci & Phillip, and two great-grandchildren and another on the way and numerous family and friends.

May your spirit soar, Phil!

There will be a Celebration of Phil’s Life in the summer. The time and place shall be determined and published in the Idaho Mountain Express.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to http://www.bu.edu/cte/ to assist the research for CTE on behalf of all Football Players and our future children. If you prefer to mail in your donation:

Write a check to the “Trustees of Boston University” with “BU CTE Center” in the memo line and mail it to:
Boston University School of Medicine
Office of Development
72 East Concord Street, L-219
Boston, MA 02118