Webster 'Web' Phillips

Webster 'Web' Lee Phillips

Dec. 26, 1915 - May 13, 2014

MCCOOK, Neb. -- Webster "Web" Lee Phillips of McCook passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. He was 98 years old.

Web was born on Dec. 26, 1915, at Mason City, Nebraska, to parents, William Lincoln and Anna Christina (Hansen) Phillips. He attended North Platte Schools and later the University of Illinois.

On Dec. 21, 1941, he entered the U.S. Navy and served with the Navy Sea Bees Construction Battalion during World War II. While in the service, he planned and designed a section of the Public Works Department of Camp Perry, Virginia; tide gates in both wood and concrete and 2,500 man wood stadium; railroad tresses to deposit coal from coal cars; barrack buildings for church purposes; designed Sea Bees monument and drew plans for stevedore mock training ship. Web survived two typhoons while in the South Pacific, waited at the dock at Awasi Air Strip on Okinawa in 1945 and preceded to Tengan Peak to establish quonset huts. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 27, 1946.

On Sept. 2, 1946, he was united in marriage to Florence Ethel Culton at North Platte. They eventually settled in McCook, where Web worked for R.E. Phillips Construction Company. He would be responsible for designing and laying brick for many churches throughout Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado, as well as numerous houses in McCook.

He was a member of First Congregational Church where he sang in the choir. Other memberships included the McCook Masonic Lodge No. 135 and Brick Layers Association.

Web's hobbies included playing pool at the Senior Center, taking daily walks, singing and telling jokes.

Preceding him in death were his parents and siblings, Newell Edwin, Stella, Guy, Olive, Clara, Leroy, Thed, Howard, Worth, Dellmond, Bob, Alma, and Florence.

Survivors include his wife, Florence Phillips of McCook; children, Ronald Lee Phillips and wife, Dr. Karen Cook Phillips of Kenawick, Washington and Karen Evans of McCook; four grandchildren, Michael (Kathy) Evans of Grand Island, Michelle (Scott) Martin of McCook, Sara Evans of Iola, Kansas and Kailey Phillips of Kenawick, Washington; seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of family and friends.

Memorials may be given in his name.

Visitation will be Sunday, May 18, 2014, from 4-8 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m.

Funeral services will be Monday, May 19, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church with Rev. Steve Bales officiating. Burial will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska, at 2:30 p.m.

Friends may send condolences to the family at

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.