Carl Phillips

Carl Edward Phillips was born on December 16, 1937 just outside of Pocahontas, Arkansas. He was the youngest of seven children born to David C. Phillips and Eliza (Weatherford) Phillips.

Carl went to his heavenly home on Saturday, August 26, 2023, having reached the age of 85.

He proudly served in the Army as a general supply specialist from 1960-1962. After which he was in the reserves until 1966.

Carl married the love of his life, Edna Ray (Crismon) on July 4, 1969. They were married fifty years prior to her passing in 2019, and had a daughter, Carla Renee', who was the apple of their eye.

Although Carl came from humble beginnings picking cotton and working on the farm, he became a successful businessman in life. He started out at Brown Shoe Company in Pocahontas, AR and climbed the ladder quickly by moving around to the different plants within the company until he moved to Potosi, MO to become plant manager at the end of 1975. When the plant closed in 1986, he made the move to another shoe company in Farmington called Trimfoot, and then moving on to start his own car detailing business called Car Groom. Carl’s next endeavor was owning two small town grocery stores in Annapolis and Belgrade, Missouri. He would eventually sell the stores to travel with Edna, but most of his retirement years was devoted to taking care of his wife with dementia.

Carl was active in his local community with organizations like the Rotary Club and Potosi Southern Baptist Church where he was a dedicated Sunday School teacher, deacon, money counter, Judgement House guide and eventually he and Edna would visit the local nursing home residents every Sunday. He also became loved and cared for by his community the last several years of his life and many at Casey’s, Gulf, Wal-Mart, and McDonald’s knew him well and became his friends.

Carl is survived by his daughter, Carla (Phillips) Smith and husband, Chad; three grandchildren: Liberty (Smith) Miller and husband, Blake, Chason Smith and Chloe Smith; as well as one sibling, Vada (Phillips) Schafer; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends, and a sweet church family.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his lovely wife, Edna Ray; and five siblings: Vera Thompson, Cleo Phillips, Jim Phillips, Vona “Billie” Baker, and Mildred Davis.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 1, 2023, from 5 to 8 p.m. at DeClue Funeral Home, 301 E High St, Potosi, MO 63664.

A Funeral Service will be Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 10 a.m., held at Potosi Southern Baptist Church, 10165 MO-8, Potosi, MO 63664.

Following the Funeral Service, A second visitation will be Saturday, September 2, 2023, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. held at McNabb Funeral Home, 2129 N Park St, Pocahontas, AR 72455. Interment will follow the visitation In Randolph Memorial Gardens in East Pocahontas, Arkansas where he will receive full military honors by the United States Army.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301
Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, Potosi Southern Baptist Church, 10165 MO-8, Potosi, MO 63664, or the Alzheimer’s Association, 9370 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63132 in Carl’s Memory.

DeClue Funeral Home was honored to have served the family of Mr. Carl Phillips.