Obituary: Jerry Robert PHILLIPS, 74, Coudersport

Jerry Robert PHILLIPS, 74, of Coudersport, PA, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2024.  Born June 27, 1949, in Coudersport, he was the son of  Robert and Berna Atkinson Phillips.  When Jerry was a junior in high school, his family moved to Fort Myers, FL, where he graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1967.  After high school, Jerry took a gap year and explored Australia before he came home to join the Navy.  He served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1969 – 1974 during the Vietnam War.  He served on the USS Macdonough (DLG8/DDG-39) and was a diver.  Jerry was a lover of the outdoors.  He spent many years as a logger and providing firewood to his family and the community through Phillips Firewood.  He then started Greenhill Sugar Shack, where he made maple syrup, later with his close friend, Scott DeLong.  Jerry is survived by his children: Wendy (Joe) Holbrook of Ulysses and Michael (Michelle) Phillips of New Durham, NH, along with their mother, Joan T Ellis of Austell, GA; and three grandchildren, Hannah Holbrook of Rochester NY, Heather Phillips of New Durham, NH, and Jessica (Nate) Hobbs of Rochester, NH.  Jerry was expecting his first great-grandchild next month with baby boy Hobbs.  He is also survived by his siblings, Donna Jean Bullock of Coudersport, Susan Crowe of Fort Myers, FL, and Mary Jane (Richard) St. Dennis of Leigh Acres, FL; a sister-in-law, Carol Phillips of Norfolk, VA; and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, Jerry was predeceased by three aunts, Donna Mae Grant, who he cared for for many years, Elsie Deitrick, and Wilma Webster; an uncle, William Atkinson; a brother, James Phillips; a brother-in-law, Don Crowe; and a grandson, Joseph T. Holbrook.  Private Services for family will be held in the summer when he will be planted back into life as a maple tree.  Cremation was at OLNEY-FOUST Private Crematory.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Potter County Historical Society, P.O. Box 605, Coudersport, PA 16915 or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org.  Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.