Phillip Hanna

Born in Bellaire Texas May 1, 1967, to parents Victor and Judy Hanna, soon to be followed by (I would like to say his partner in crime, but his instigator in crime is more accurate) his sister, Tracie Hanna at which point he became “Bubba” and later “Pooh”.

Growing up, he split his time between Bellaire, TX near his fraternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and the family farm in Palestine, TX, near his maternal grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins.

He led a busy childhood playing baseball as an all-star catcher all the way through high school, basketball pick-up games with friends, golf, midnight tennis, shooting pool, and bowling in Bellaire. In Palestine, riding horses and his Papa’s brahma cattle, bailing hay, fixing fence, (bailing wire is the country equivalent of duct tape ya’ll) working cattle, riding dirt bikes, hunting, and working the garden. And, along with all the family members, at one time or another, stopping on the side of the road to pick polk-salad and dewberries from the ditches and fences for his grandmothers; and picking, shelling, and canning so many peas, vegetables, and jellies that all the beds in the houses of both grandmothers would be stacked full of enough canning jars to feed relatives and friends alike. Considering, his MaMa had six daughters and their families, that is a lot of picking, shelling, and canning. And peas ripen in June in Texas ya’ll. It’s hot in the pea patch.

The farming carried back into Bellaire where Phillip participated in FHA and 4H showing cattle, pigs, sheep, rabbits, and even chickens at the high school show, county fairs, and even the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He also showed his wood-working where he won Grand Champion for a mantle clock he had crafted.

And, always, in all locations, throughout his life, he inherited a love of fishing from his Dad – in the pond at the farm, in the lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans; from a pier, from a boat, or on a deep-sea excursion – with any kind of pole or trot line.

He missed his calling as a stand-up comedian, keeping everyone within ear shot laughing riotously.

Being born to spontaneous parents, there was always somewhere to go and something to do – Astroworld season passes, Astros games – he loved his Astros, Rockets games, Toledo Bend camping, holiday boot scootin’, tractor pulls, monster truck shows, the circus, the Harlem Globetrotters, roller skating, ice skating, the zoo and animal safaris, Natural Bridge Caverns, the Rusk Railroad, First Monday, annual Camp Warneke and then Whitewater camping trips to New Braunfels, taking the boat out to waterski or fish, late night zooming off to Mexico for dog races, Arkansas or Louisiana for horse races , 10 states in 2 weeks RV vacations, including the Royal Gorge, the great Divide, the baseball hall of fame and many other landmarks along the way; and later midnight New Years flights to Las Vegas.

His lifelong best friend, James Pawlik, often got drug along for the ride, mostly willingly, except when Phil thought he should try out for the Indy 500 or the dirt bike equivalent; a proposition made even scarier by the fact that Phil had a notoriously bad sense of direction.

And always family gatherings - in Palestine or Arkansas for big family Christmases, at Uncle Dan’s on Lake Mathis for Fourth of July, in and around Canton and Athens for annual family reunions; plus, summers at MaMa’s or Grandma’s or visiting Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.

The Bellaire house was the hub, always full of family, friends, and pets – dogs, cats, hamsters, parrakeets, then parrots, and goldfish won by tossing the ping pong ball into fishbowls at carnivals at the aforementioned fairs and rodeos.

He attended Church of the Nazarene and Richmond Plaza Church in Bellaire and Lone Pine Baptist Church in Palestine.

A lifelong student that loved to learn and converse about worldwide economics, coin collecting, the stock market, and the bible, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at Stephen F. Austin University and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Houston attending night school while working. He later earned his CPA, his insurance license, and his real estate and loan officer licensing hours.

While at Stephen F. Austin, he and friends frequently attended women’s basketball home games as they were a talented team and title contenders. Just before graduation, he won a new car in a half-time challenge, shooting a lay-up, free throw, three-pointer, and half-court shot in 30 seconds; a timely win as he and his sister shared a car in college.

While at Stephen F. Austin, his Dad, Victor Hanna, passed away when he was just twenty-one.

He traveled to Oakland, CA with the SBA to assist those with damaged homes and businesses from the 1989 earthquake right after graduation from Stephen F. Austin, visiting the Grand Canyon, Napa Valley, San Francisco, and the Redwood Forest while there. On returning to Houston, he worked in the financial field as a Financial Analyst at Mellon Bank and then a Commercial Lending analyst for Sterling Bank.

He met and married Dorie Pepper and they later remained friends. They took several trips and cruises together and he fell in love with Cabo San Lucas.

In his late thirties, he was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and was no longer able to work.

He moved first to Deer Park near his sister, then to Austin, and then to New Braunfels to care for his Mother when she needed his assistance until she passed in 2012.

Though he struggled tremendously with the highs and lows of bi-polar, Phil led as full of a life as he could.

Phil opened his home and heart to friends that needed assistance or a place to stay.

Phil spoke with his sister Tracie daily, always making sure she called when walking or driving alone at night to be sure she made it to her destination safely.

Phil drove an hour each way to the hospital doing whatever he could to assist when his brother-in-law had a near fatal motorcycle accident – bringing clothes, and food – spending the day or the night at his bedside – driving him nearly daily to follow-up appointments and therapy once he came home.

Phil participated in a bible study group with Murray Crompton and other brothers and sisters from the Jehovah Witness Church; and over the phone with his cousin Joseph Ledoux who is a Mormon pastor.

Phil frequently phoned his aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors to check on them.

His great nephews and niece were the light of his life, along with his neighbor and fishing buddy, Jaylyn Powell. He loved being Uncle Phil - going to baseball games, playing catch, going to the park, fishing at the river and lake, going swimming and to swim lessons, to Yogi Bera park, to ZDTs amusement park with go carts, water slides, a roller coaster, climbing walls, and other attractions, to Texas Ski Ranch for wakeboarding, skateboarding, trampoline park, paint ball, and snowboarding, to Urban Air, playing Wii – and just all around hanging out and spoiling them however and whenever possible. He was so immensely proud of each of them.

He and Jay would fish whenever time and weather permitted – day or night.

His good friends and neighbors, Barbara and Danny VanZandt, Irv and Charlotte Brown, and Tim Smith would share meals, go grocery shopping, and run errands together. And gather for holidays and birthday celebrations.

Phil’s favorite place in the world was his front porch – watching over his neighbors and neighborhood with his big dimpled grin and wave with a standing invitation to join him for a soda and some conversation; watching the sun set and rise over the hill in the distance, doting on his beloved Victory and Hip Hop Grace – his cats, watching his hummingbirds, and feeding the deer, his two geese that visited daily in season, the foxes, and even the occasional possum, raccoon, or skunk – from a safe distance, of course.

He was one of the most protective, kind, smart, accomplished, annoying, hilarious, and generous individuals you would ever meet.

Even though Phillip was taken too soon, he lived an extraordinary life surrounded by people who loved him.

He will be remembered as a gentle soul with a big heart and dimpled smile.

Phil is preceded in death by his parents Victor and Judy Hanna, his maternal and paternal grandparents, and great nephew Hunter Haskins. He is survived by sister Tracie and husband Robert Hanna-Haskins, his nephew Jim Haskins and wife Chrissy, his niece Jennifer Haskins Rodriguez, his great niece Lillian Rodriguez, and his great nephews Cannon Rodriguez, Austin Haskins, Kaden Haskins, and Spencer Haskins, his Aunt Debbie Ledoux and his Aunt Jerri Luster, his best friend James Pawlik and his fiancée Christine Ables, his fishing buddy Jaylyn Powell, and numerous other cousins and extended family members, friends, neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

The hole left behind by the loss of Phil is irreplaceable, but he would not want us to be consumed by grief and tears. He would want his memory to be celebrated with a toast, love, laughter, adventure, family, fishing, and a deep appreciation of the good in our lives.

In honor of Phil, please take time to appreciate everything and everyone in your lives and most of all, be kind to yourself and one another.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests plants, as Phil’s niece and green thumb ally, Chrissy Haskins, will be creating a memorial garden at the house in New Braunfels.

A celebration of life for Phillip will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa St, New Braunfels, Texas 78130.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ZoellerFuneralHm.com for the Hanna family.