Johnny Harlan Phillips, 75, of Spurger, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. He was born on April 28, 1950, in Silsbee, Texas, to Clyde and Martha Geneva Jenkins Phillips.
Harlan was a literal jack of all trades; he could do anything he set his mind to do. His ability to craft something out of seemingly nothing was amazing. All the things we thought were useless, he would repurpose or invent something to make out of them. If we ever had something we thought was junk, we’d ask him first if he wanted it or could use it, and he’d always say, “My name’s Jimmy, I’ll take anything you wanna gimme!” Which brings us to his ability to effortlessly devise a rhyme in an instant. He was always making up and serenading us with his (sometimes inappropriate) funny song lyrics.
He always enjoyed the outdoors and would get fighting mad when the weather wasn’t cooperating enough for him to be able to get out. His garden was always something to admire; each year he’d declare, “I’m only gonna plant a little bit,” yet it seemed to grow in size year after year. He’d put up everything he could and still had more to give away. He had a green thumb beyond belief and has been known to resurrect a plant that much resembled a stick in the dirt.
He had a gift for making people laugh, but he was as blunt and brutally honest as they come, and that is the way he will always be remembered and cherished.
He is survived by his loving wife, Eva Phillips; daughters, Crystal Means and husband, Steven, of Spurger; Geivonna Little and husband, Stacy, of Nacogdoches; and Dusty Gore and husband, Robert, of Silsbee; sister Charlotte Green of Zavalla; grandchildren, Lane and Fenton Means; Rebekah Pyle and husband, Drew; Emma Byrum and husband, Topher; Raven Eason and husband, Kevin; and Samantha, Belle, and Daton Gore; great-grandchildren, Rhylyn, Liberty, and Robert Pyle; fur babies, Judy & Willow; and 19 chickens.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved baby girl, Kimberly Dianne Phillips; and grandson, J.W. Gore, III.
