Wayne Phillips
Wayne Phillips age 73 of Stearns, Kentucky entered his Heavenly home in the early morning hours of Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington with his loving family by his side. Born just after his twin brother Blaine on November 20, 1952, he was the youngest child of Rev. Luther and Ethel Crisp Phillips and grew up in the Mt. View community—roots that he cherished always.
On July 10, 1982, Wayne married the love of his life, Patsy Bryant, and from that day forward they were inseparable partners in every season of their life. Together they raised two daughters, Megan Danielle and Whitney LeeAnn, who were the joy of his heart. Wayne was a devoted, hands-on father—always present, always encouraging, always proud. Gaining Andy and Danny into his family, gave him two sons that he was so incredibly proud of and loved as his own. That love only deepened when he became “Pop-Pop” to his five grandchildren: Kinslee Rayne, Kason Andrew, Warren Derek, Kresley Willow, and Rowen Wayne. Whether he was in the bleachers, beside the fence, at a birthday party, or waiting for a phone call, he treasured every single moment with them.
Wayne spent 28 years serving the McCreary County School District, first as a beloved physical education teacher and later as the Director of Transportation at the Bus Garage. He loved his students, his coworkers, and his work and made lifelong friendships throughout his career.
Wayne was baptized at an early age and grew up attending Mt. View Baptist Church and other congregations where his father pastored. He grew up singing with his family in churches across the region and fondly recalled those memories. In later years he became a member of Walkers Chapel Baptist Church. Even when his health declined, he tuned into every church service online and sang right along with the choir from his home.
Wayne was a man with many interests—he had a love for rabbit, deer, and squirrel hunting, farming and working in the hayfields, he spent long nights out fishing and played many rounds of golf with family and friends. He truly loved sports, especially the Kentucky Wildcats and the New York Yankees. With a fierce competitive nature in all that he did, he was an intense rook player on the ridge and always loved a game of throwing horseshoes at the beloved cabin on rock creek. He was a man of numbers, and he amazed his family with his ability to recall statistics from memory.
Wayne’s greatest purpose and greatest joy came from the life that he built with Patsy, their daughters, and their grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, devotion, and unwavering love. In addition to his girls, he held a deep and enduring love for his extended family. He remained devoted to his siblings, nieces, and nephews all throughout his life. He kept up with each one—celebrating their accomplishments, thinking of them often, and praying for them faithfully. Wayne shared a bond like no other with his twin brother, Blaine and spoke of him with both pride and tenderness after his passing. Those who loved Wayne take comfort in knowing that his homegoing brought a joyful reunion with his mother, father, siblings, and especially Blaine, whose presence he had missed every day. His love for his family—both here and in Heaven—was steadfast, genuine, and felt by all who knew him.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers: Alonzo Phillips, Eugene Phillips, Luther Phillips Jr., Carlos Phillips and Blaine Phillips; his sisters: Dora Adkins, Zora Myers, Laura King, Imogene Watters, Clotine Clark, Patty Hill and Mickey Maxwell; his in-laws Steve and Hazel Bryant; his brothers-in-law, Wendell Adkins, David Myers, Denzil King, Winfred Clark, Donald Lee Maxwell and RD Bryant; his sister-in-law Jean Bryant; and several nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his loving wife, Patsy Lee; daughters Megan and her husband Andy Jones, Whitney and her husband Danny Lay; his five cherished grandchildren Kinslee, Kason, Warren, Kresley and Rowen; and his sisters-in-law: Debbie Phillips, Julie Phillips, Kathy Phillips, Judy and Boyce Worley, Sheila and Anthony Heflin, Donna Bryant; his brothers-in-law Scott Bryant, Greg and Beverly Bryant and Stuart and Dede Bryant; and a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday November 26, 2025, at the Hickman Strunk Funeral Home with Bro. Darren Kidd and Storm Stevens officiating. His final resting place will be alongside his Phillips family in the Mt. View Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Wayne’s nephews Rocky Johnson, Steve King, Mark Pryor, Brian Maxwell, Mike Denney, Dustin Phillips, Matt Phillips, and son-in-law Andy Jones.
Junior pallbearers were his grandsons Kason Jones and Warren Lay.
Honorary pallbearers include friends Jerry Don Ross, Tim Stephens, Randy Maxwell, Jimmy Barnett, Gary Hollis, and nephews Mike King, and Othel King.
Hickman Strunk Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Wayne Phillips.
