Ray Gene Phillips, Jr.

Ray Gene Phillips, Jr., age 62, of Bluefield, VA, died December 19 after fighting a courageous battle with a rare cancer. Ray died at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, surrounded by his loving family. Ray was born May 9, 1949 to Ray Gene & Edna Phillips, now deceased. He was raised in Pineville, West Virginia and was a 1967 graduate of Pineville High School. Ray went on to earn a B.S. Degree in Mathematics from Bluefield State College in 1971 and in 1978 received his Master's Degree in Safety from Marshall University. After college, Ray began his lifelong career with Consol Energy and his passion for coal mining led to a successful career of 38 years of dedicated service. After retirement, Ray worked as a consultant for ECKO Fire Protection. Ray was an avid golfer, loved fishing, watching football, tending to his garden, which was a new hobby after retirement, and he loved his Doo-Wop music. He enjoyed the beach and trips to Disney World with his family and annual trips and fun times with their "Couples Friends". Ray is survived by his wife of 38 years, Bonnie O'Bryan Phillips, who he met when she worked in the Pocahontas Company Store. Their two daughters are Megan Stevenson & husband Jake of Bluefield, VA and Mandy Price and husband Andy of Charlotte, NC. Missing all the fun times with their Poppy will be granddaughters Josie & Lacey Stevenson and Madison Price and the newest member of the family, grandson Holden Andrew Price, who is 6 weeks old. Also surviving are sister and brother-in-law Betty and Tom Lusk and Step-Mother Emily Phillips. Extended family members include Gary & Bev Frowen, Dewey & Jeanie Law, Linda Bright, Barry & Tammy O'Bryan, Eddie & Belinda Davis and many special nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church, 1325 Augusta Street, Bluefield, WV with Rev. Ed Fisher and Rev. Tom Lusk officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Pallbearers are the Buchanan mine Rescue Team. Honorary Pallbearers are Barry O'Bryan, Jonathan Lusk, Gary Frowen, Eddie Davis, Bill Tolliver, Dave Goad, Randy Cox, Mac Ruble, Dale White, Dave Bowers, Dave Chumbley, John Peery, Roger Phipps, Richard Shumate, Randy Lambert, John Goddard, Don Harris, Don White, and Abel Solademi. Friends may call on Wednesday from 6-9 PM at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell is serving the family.