PHIPPS, Gary Alan "Poke"
PHIPPS, PLUMMER, CHASTAIN, MILER, HILL, IRVING, JOHNSON, BLACK
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/24/2016 at 17:58:11
Obituary ~ Gary Alan "Poke" Phipps
May 12, 1955 ~ November 7, 2016Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, IowaGary Alan “Poke” Phipps, age 61, son of Kenneth Clair and Doris Jean (Plummer) Phipps, was born May 12, 1955, at Leon, Iowa and passed away from this life on November 7, 2016, at his home in Leon, Iowa.
Gary was a heavy set child and got the nickname of Fatso. His parents changed it to Pokey since he drug his feet and was a slowpoke in everything he did. This was then shortened to Poke, which he was known as for the rest of his life.
Poke grew up on the family farm northwest of Decatur, Iowa, and attended Grand Valley Community School until he moved to Leon with his mother. He then attended Central Decatur School in Leon, Iowa. At the age of 14, he worked for Don Lucas and Bob Chastain of Leon as a farm hand. He rode a mini bike to work everyday and told them he was 16, at the time. Poke worked various jobs such as truck driving, masonry work, and construction until 1991, when he purchased the garage in Decatur, Automotive Truck Service & Repair. He took great pride in his work until his death.
Poke loved Nascar and even raced late model cars for several years. He won the Hard Charger award at the Boone Speedway in 1998. He was an avid camper, liked to go boating on his pontoon boat, rode motorcyles, liked watching John Wayne movies, Sunday drives, and loved the outdoors. As a young boy, he rode bulls at Grand River every weekend. He had a gruff exterior, would tell things like they were, came directly to the point, and confident in his mechanical abilities, but deep inside he had a heart of gold. His family was important to him. He had a love of animals and always had a dog with him. His favorite saying was “Hey, hey, hey”.
Preceding him in death were his grandparents; parents; son, Kirk Miler; and Rip, his faithful dog.
Those surviving include daughter, Okalena Hill and husband, Bill of Leon; son, Tony Miler and wife, Jennifer of Osceola, Iowa; grandchildren, Malorie and Monica Irving, Clayton, Tate, Reece, and Wade Hill and baby Miler, expected in December of this year; brother, Larry Phipps and wife LiPing of Leon; sisters, Deanna Johnson and Jackie Phipps, both of Leon; companion, Ila Black of Leon, and her children, grandchildren, and faithful dog, Oscar; nieces and nephews; numerous other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Friday, November 11, 2016, with Pastor Dale Short officiating. Burial will be the Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, Iowa.
Memorials may be given to Journey of Joy in Poke’s memory.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2016
Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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