Phillip Gene Bernard was born February 17, 1954, in Hutchinson, KS, to Emma Bernard-Castor and Lanier W. Phillips. He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and was a member of Second Baptist Church, Hutchinson. Phillip attended Avenue A Elementary School, Sherman Junior High, and graduated from Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson.
He was the owner and operator of Phil Bernard Construction Company in Hutchinson for over 20 years. As a gifted and creative craftsman, Phillip continued the Bernard Construction family legacy, as he learned the construction trade from his uncles. In his spare time, he enjoyed making sculptures out of concrete.
Phillip loved playing golf on the weekends and playing in tournaments, hanging out with cousins, relatives, and childhood friends. He was a kind and compassionate soul who always had a warm smile to offer. Phillip regularly spent time with his elders for conversation, coffee, or to offer a helping hand.
On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, our Lord and Savior called our beloved Phillip to be with Him in a place we are all promised one day, if we believe and have faith.
Preceding him in death are: his grandparents, Warren and Jessie Bernard; parents, Emma Bernard-Castor and Lanier W. Phillips; brother, Bobby Jenkins; four sisters, twin sister Phyllis, Mary ‘Missy’ Bailey, Denise Phillips, and Teresa Benford; two nephews, Curtis Jenkins and Joshua Haines; aunt, Maxine Hill; and seven uncles, Wilbur Bernard, Leonard Bernard, Henry Bernard, John Bernard, Samuel Bernard, Kenneth Bernard, and Donald Bernard.
He leaves to cherish his memory: two aunts, Lucille Adams and Myrna Bernard, both of Hutchinson; uncle, Charles Bernard of Fresno, CA; cousin, Maurcena ‘Marty’ (Standley) Lee of Olathe; three brothers, Danny Bernard of Hutchinson, Dennis Phillips and Michael Phillips, both of Portland, OR; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.
Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at Elliott Mortuary, with the Reverend William J. Green, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, November 14, 2022, and from 9 a.m. to service time, Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at Elliott Mortuary. The service can be viewed online by going to Phillip’s obituary on the Elliott Mortuary website and selecting the ‘Click here to view the funeral service’ link.