Oliver Springs fire chief dies after battling longtime illness

 

Oliver Springs Fire Chief Terry Lee Phillips died Sunday, July 3, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center after battling a longtime illness. He was 60.

Phillips joined the Oliver Springs Fire Department in 1974, and he became the fire chief in 1994, after his father retired from the same position. He started working for the U.S. Department of Energy in 1976.

He retired from the fire department on Thursday, June 30.

“Please remember Chief Phillips’ family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” the Oliver Springs Fire Department said on its Facebook page. “The department would also like to thank everyone for your thoughts, kind words, and prayers during this difficult time.”

The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 5, between 5 and 7 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 6, at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Premier Sharp Funeral Home, with Pastor Garvan Walls officiating. Burial will follow the funeral service at Mount Pisgah Cemetery.

Phillips was born on March 26, 1956, in Mt. Clements, Michigan.

He has been a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church since 1965 and also frequently attended Kellytown Baptist Church, according to his obituary.

Racing, fishing, and hunting were among his favorite hobbies, but the “love of his life was working on and driving his Mustangs,” the obituary said.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Laney Phillips, and Lon and Hazel Coker; and father, Carlis Phillips.

He is survived by his mother, Bettie R. Phillips of Oliver Springs; sons, David and wife Tosha Phillips of Karns, Brandon and wife Ginger Phillips of Friendsville; grandchildren, Jenises, Destanie, Jayden, Dalton, and Ella Grace Phillips; brother, Jeff Phillips of Oliver Springs; nephew, Jeffery Phillip; step-daughter, Jessica West and her children; step-grandchildren, D.J. and Hunter Chandler and children and Morgan Chandler; and special friends, Lester Dunn, Danny Roberts, David McCarroll and Tim Fox.

Note: Oak Ridge Today has requested information about who is serving as acting or interim fire chief in Oliver Springs, as well as the process for selecting a new chief, and we will update this story as we learn more.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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