Kim Phillips of Batesville passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the age of 70. He was preceded in passing by his parents, V.L. and Marie Phillips, his brother Bob Phillips, grandparents Audary and Mary Matthews and Virgil and Helen Phillips, uncles James (Murval) and Jerry (Mary) Matthews, uncle Hayden (Sue) Phillips, and aunts Wanda (John Jr.) Morrow and Linda Matthews. He is survived by his wife of 45 years Nancy Phillips, daughter Holly Phillips, son Shane (Joany) Phillips, granddaughters Alora and Zoe Lowry, grand-puppy Lucy, nephew Garrett Phillips (Sarah), cousin Brandon Matthews (Genevieve), and several additional cousins on the Phillips and Matthews sides of the family.
Kim was born in Arkansas but spent most of his childhood in Michigan about an hour west of Detroit. After graduating from community college in 1973, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served as a military policeman in Hawaii. According to Kim, after he left the Army in 1976, he came to Arkansas from Michigan to visit his grandmother and never went back (except to visit).
Kim met his future wife, Nancy, in 1979. They dated approximately a month before their marriage on September 9th, 1979. According to Kim, he told Nancy that he was coming to visit that weekend and, if they didn’t get married, he was not coming back. In telling the story in later years, when Nancy wasn’t looking, he would laugh and add that he would, in fact, have gone back.
He worked for many years in Batesville for Arkansas Eastman, Diemer Trucking, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Arkansas Kenworth before retiring in 2015.
Kim was a devoted husband and father. He loved being outdoors, and lawn care was a hobby of his. If there wasn’t something that needed to be done in the yard on a nice day, he would certainly invent something for himself. He loved sports, in particular, Detroit Tigers baseball. He enjoyed reading Westerns and the works of Tom Clancy. He loved music and had a special fondness for the Blues and the works of Bob Dylan. He was a longtime member of the Harrison Street Church of Christ in Batesville.
Kim was known for his kindness and generosity. He would gladly give a stranger what he had, even at times when he may not have had enough for himself. In the spirit of his generosity, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Arkansas Food Bank and The Van (itsthevan.org).
No public service is planned. The family will have a private burial service at a later date. Friends and family can leave messages on the online guest book on the Doty Southside Funeral Service website.
