Dr. Phillip Harrell Yunker

MAYSVILLE — Dr. Phillip Harrell Yunker, of Maysville, passed away after a brief illness at Baptist Health on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Phillip was born on Nov. 2, 1945, in Sturgis, Mich., to the late Jean Howard Yunker and Alberta Harrell Yunker.

Phillip was a graduate of Western Michigan University, class of 1967 and the University of Louisville Medical School 1972. He was a physican and missionary with the United Presbyterian Church in East Africa in for three years. In 1976, he began his Family Medical Practice in Maysville and continued to practice until he retired in 2006. Phillip's missionary work continued after his retirement when he had several medical missions to Bogota, Columbia and a number of missions with GO International.

Phillip served as a devoted and long longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Maysville. He was a member of the Limestone Corale.

He was a lifelong learner and a voracious reader. After retirement he enjoyed quiet days reading history books and would read 100's of books on subjects of interest each year. He enjoyed landscape gardening.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Jean and Alberta Yunker.

Those left here to carry on his legacy are his best friend and wife of 38 years, Grace Pyles Yunker; his children, Jacob (Tosha) Yunker, Gwendolyn (Tony) Kielman; grandchildren, Ella Yunker, Luke Yunker, Peyton Kielman; his brother, Jean Douglas Yunker (Susanne) of Oregon; sister, Jeannette Bauer(Darrell) Beaufort, SC; his sisters-in-law Jane Pyles Collins, Elizabeth Pyles Berry, and Millie Pyles, several nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends who will miss him deeply.

A Memorial Service will be held to celebrate Phillip's life on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Maysville. Reverend Wayne Barnett will be officiating. Friends and family are welcome to gather for visitation beginning at 1 p.m. until the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Phillip's name to GO International, 503 Wilder Reynolds Rd. Wilmore, KY 40390.

To leave an online condolence for the family or to share a fond memory of Phillip, please visit www.palmerfuneralhome.net.