I cannot believe that Phil has left us. I last talked to him about a year ago and suggested we have a reunion in New Orleans. He told me that travel was difficult and I offered to drive him but he sounded pretty doubtful. We attended Tulane together and Phil was a close friend of mine long after that. He visited my wife Lucy and I in the many places we lived after Tulane. Lately we had lost touch somewhat until I contacted him last year and he told me he's retired. I love Phil and will miss him as will others I know with whom we shared many good times. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Buck Close, Little Compton, RI

It was with great sadness that I came across this notice of Phil's death.  We attended Tulane together.  He lived in the room next to me on the first floor of Robert Sharpe dormitory in 1969-70, during his first year at Tulane.  We became part of a group of friends who partied hard and remained close through the early 1980s.  Jobs took us in different directions and we lost touch, but I've always thought back fondly on Phil and his unique place in our merry little band of comrades.  I guess Phil always had a penchant for sporty cars.  During his Tulane years, the Karmann Ghia was his preferred mode of transport.  His was the only one on campus so he was easy to track down.  I don't recall Phil ever mis-behaving as badly as the rest of us, but he was always in there, just like a dirty sock.  It breaks my heart to know that he is no longer with us, but judging from the other notes on this site, he remained the same witty, fun, caring person I knew so long ago.

Phil possessed a splendid sense of (dry) humor, sartorial splendor, and compassion.  While it's a little sadder for us mortals, I'll bet Phil is keeping the angels smiling with his gentle humor.  Condolences and blessings to those who mourn.

Where do I begin with my memories of Phil? Joe is right-- there was a lot of mischief and a tremendous amount of laughter when it came to Phil. Senatobia jail, anyone? Phil was special because he made me feel special. He let me see a side of him that I think a lot of people didn't see. He allowed me to see his wit, wicked sense of humor, and most importantly, his kindness and warmth. Would you believe he let me drive his brand new BMW even though he was mortified to see me behind the wheel?  He was a gentleman in every sense of the word-- and a well dressed gentleman at that. I used to kid him that he looked like he had just stepped out of the pages of GQ. He was the epitome of understated elegance. But back to his warmth, which is my favorite characteristic of Uncle Phil, as our children called him. I loved him for that and will always feel so privileged that he shared with me that part of himself.

Phil was truly one of a kind.  He loved good food and fine wine. I loved him humor... The first time I was in New Orleans, he was our "tour guide".  It was a quick overnight trip but we saw everything you could possibly see and ate very well. Thanks for the Phil memories!

I have to confess that most of the time I spent with Phil involved mischief of some sort, or shopping for the perfect whatever, or scooting around in his BMW.  While Phil wouldn't always show it, he had a wicked wit and generally kept me and Ingrid (and his usual running buddies) laughing with him and at all of us. I know everyone who ever met him has their own Phil story, and he lives brightly in all of our memories.  He has been a mentor with respect to governmental incentives and financing, as well as some of the more esoteric areas of criminal law.  He was "Uncle Phil" to my children, and my drinking buddy.  He made my life better.  I invite everyone to share their Phil stories - I've never heard a boring one.

OBITUARY

Howard Phillip Carnes

Born 10 MAY, 1949

H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel

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