Carlos Mario Phillips

Mario was born to Horacio Phillips and Reyes Coward on January 6, 1941 in Falfurrias, Texas. He was the first son to Horacio and Reyes. Mario never married and had no children. He chose to stay by his mother’s side and helped raise his siblings.

He didn’t have much of a school education, he did learn to read and write by practicing with the Yakima Herald on his own. He was very intelligent, he could fix almost any kind of car or farm equipment and appliances. He loved gardening and always shared his produce; he took pride when he canned his tomatoes and chilies. He would raise goats and made the best goat birria, he took pride in making it. He retired from Del Monte after 15 years.

Mario was preceded in death by his father Horacio Phillips and Reyes Coward, also his sister Julia Trevino and brothers David and Israel Phillips.

Mario is survived by his brother Gilbert and Carol Phillips, Horacio Jr. Phillips, Joel and Jane Coward; his sisters Diane Espinoza, Alicia Muir, Nora and Frank Riojas, Irene and Daniel Rodriguez, Maria (Lily) and Pat Kinzler. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews who he adored.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 9:00 a.m., Friday, June 12, 2015 at Shepherd’s Heart Church in Yakima. Interment will follow at West Hills Memorial Park. To share a memory of Mario visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.