DAVID LEE PHILLIPS

FREEDOM -- David Lee Phillips, 68, of Freedom, passed away at his home Friday, March 29, 2013, after a brave and courageous battle with cancer, with his family and close friend Bret Ryan by his side. David was born in Plainfield, N.J., on Dec. 7, 1944, to Albert and Mildred (Lee) Phillips.

David was an owner-operator truck driver for most of his life, hauling out of Irving Tanning in Hartland and Sigma Corp. in Cream Ridge, N.J.

David enjoyed going to antique truck and equipment shows with good friend Bret. He enjoyed going to Carlisle, Pa., with good friend Jim Bartels. Dave also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Dave was always willing to help anyone that needed a hand. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers Alvin and John Phillips.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Elizabeth (Raven) Phillips; sons Keith, of Freedom, and Kenneth and his wife, Theresa, of Pittsfield; daughter Jennifer Schofield and her husband, Wayne, of Troy; eight grandchildren, Colleen, Nicole and Mackensie Schofield, Christopher, Lucus, Cheyanne and Khole Phillips and Dustin Phillips; sister Lois Hacik and her husband, Walter, of Troy; several nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Dorothy and Todd Trull, of Unity, and Linda and Michael Raven, of Pittsfield; and special friends Jim Bartels, of Knox, Bret Ryan, of Sidney, and Emery Whitcomb, of Monroe.

A special thank-you to Julie Parsons for all her help and time spent at appointments. The family would like to thank the nurses at Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, Dr. Ronald Hart and Dr. Timothy Webb for all their love and support and keeping Dave so positive through it all. A special thanks to Jim Bartels and wife Tanya for all of their support and Bret for all the support he gave to Dave and the family. Special thanks to Dave and Linda Richards, of New Jersey, Petty and Brenda Letourneau, of North Carolina, and nieces Lieschen Strothoff, of Maryland, and Debbie Aguilar, of New Jersey, for making special trips to Maine to surprise Dave in the last couple of months.

There will be a celebration of life at 1 p.m. April 27 at David's home. Please come and reminisce about good times and share stories with the family and close friends.