Larry Dean Phillips, 80, passed away on October 15, 2026, at 7:12 a.m. at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center.Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin Alonzo Phillips and Nona Mae Speegle Phillips.
He is survived by his daughters, Lacinda Phillips Bolio and Sherry Larinda Goode (Earl); his grandchildren, Daniel Taylor Bolio (Isabella) and Gehrig Tyler Bolio (Aylin); along with many extended family members and friends who will miss him.
Born and raised in Cullman County, Alabama, Larry graduated from Cullman High School in 1965. He began his career with Monsanto in Decatur and was known throughout his life as a hardworking man who believed in providing for his family. He was married to Barbara Thomason Phillips for 46 years, and together they raised two daughters and were blessed with two grandsons.
Larry enjoyed a wide variety of interests throughout his life. He loved arrowhead hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, traveling, and photography. He especially enjoyed spending time outdoors and searching for pieces of history. An avid collector, he built impressive collections of arrowheads and Native American artifacts, coins, marbles, and knives. He was always eager to share his knowledge and stories behind the items he collected.
Music was also an important part of Larry’s life. He sang in a gospel quartet for a few years and enjoyed playing the organ. More than performing, he loved sharing music with family and friends. Many fond memories were made gathered around the organ as Larry played and led sing-alongs for guests, friends, and family members in his home.
In his later years, Larry developed a love for cooking and gardening. One of his greatest pleasures was sharing the food he prepared and the vegetables and crops he grew. Family, friends, neighbors, and others were often recipients of his garden’s harvest and homemade meals. It was one of the ways he showed he cared for others.
Larry loved his family through a lifetime of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication. He took pride in providing for those he loved and ensuring his family was cared for. He was proud of his daughters and found great joy in spending time with his grandchildren, who held a special place in his heart and were among his greatest blessings.
Faith remained an important part of Larry’s life. At a young age, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at Bethsaidia Baptist Church. Over the years, he served as a deacon in the Baptist church and later as an elder in the Methodist church. He was active in several congregations, participated in mission trips to the Caribbean Islands and Cuba, and made two pilgrimages to Israel.
Larry will be remembered as a man of strong values, steady character, and generous spirit. He enjoyed life’s simple pleasures: time with family, a good meal, a productive garden, an interesting find for one of his collections, and music shared with those around him. His legacy lives on through the family he loved, the lessons he taught through his example, and the many memories he leaves behind.
A life well lived is measured not only by years, but by the people whose lives were made better because you were part of them.
