Heyburn
Gaylord Phillips, age 93, of Heyburn, died Thursday, Feb. 25, at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center in Twin Falls.
Gaylord was born Dec. 29, 1916, to Luther Manley Phillips and Margarite Beatrice Bennett Phillips in Williamstown, Kentucky. His family moved from Kentucky to Buhl, when he was about 11 years old. He lived in Idaho the rest of his life.
Gaylord had a long and eventful life. He was a self-made man. He got an early start trading horses with his father and continued to buy and sell livestock throughout his life. He loved the rodeo and began on the rodeo circuit just before he got married. With the money he won from the rodeo he bought cattle to build his herd. He owned a 40-acre farm in Heyburn, where he lived until his death. He also owned a ranch in Albion, which he sold.
Jay Whittle and Gaylord owned the Burley Livestock Commission Yard for about 20 years. After the sale of the livestock yard he bought and sold cattle from his farm in Heyburn. He got his start as an auctioneer working for Frank Coffee. He then went to auctioneer school in Decater, Indiana. When he came home he and his wife, Melissa, started an auctioneer business. He used his auctioneer’s skills not only for business but also for community service. He helped area churches to raise money to build their church buildings. He also helped the Elks raise money for their charities. Gaylord was an honourable businessman and a man of his word.
Gaylord enjoyed fishing, hunting and going to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he and Olive spent the bulk of the winter for the last 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Melissa Jeffs. They were married for about 14 years when she died of cancer. He then married Shirley Race whom he divorced after 11 years. He then married Mable Waite whom he divorced after ten years. He then met and married Olive V. Gummow Martin. They were married 30 wonderful years that lasted until his death.
He is survived by his son, Gene Phillips (Carol Phillips-deceased) and their four children, Tina, Lonnie, Tony, and Melissa; his daughter, Sherry Delgado and her three children, Wendy, Jamie, and Victoria; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Additionally, he has five stepchildren; 17 step-grandchildren; 14 step-great-grandchildren; and many, many friends.
The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 2, at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where friends and family may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday and one hour prior to the service in Tuesday. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.
