Born in the Heights Hospital in Houston on January 12, 1946, and graduating from Waltrip High School in 1964, Phillip was a proud, longtime resident of Conroe, Texas. A United States Marine, Phillip served as an Automotive Mechanic (3516), from June 30, 1966, and was honorably discharged from active service as a lance corporal April 30, 1969, after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam where he served with the 3rd Marine Division near the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. He was awarded the National Defense Medal, a Marksmanship medal, a Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 stars and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device.
After he returned to Texas, Phillip built a career in the HVAC industry, working with two local school districts and eventually retiring from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2012.
If we were to detail all of Phillip’s interests and hobbies, there wouldn’t be much room on the page for anything else. A Renaissance man who had endless talent and curiosity, Phillip was a mechanic, epicurean, artist, welder, debater, sportsman, biker and doting husband and father. He was passionate and loyal, with a deep faith in Jesus and an even deeper faith in his family, for whom he sacrificed so much.
He made good use of his time on earth, supporting his children's interests as a scoutmaster with Pack 131 and Troop 143 of the George Strake District of Boy Scouts of America, co-leader of Troop 8293 of the San Jacinto Council of the Girl Scouts of America, Red Cross certified canoe specialist, coach of YMCA youth baseball and supplier of endless buckets of balls at Montgomery County Golf Course.
Phillip loved life and all it had to offer, including the friendships and stories he gathered along the way. Many people had the privilege of knowing Phillip because he never met someone he couldn’t convince they had something in common. In his retirement, he became a member of the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society. He also had a regular band of buddies who met up every Friday at Riverway Grill to shoot pool and shoot the … well, you know.
There were no two people who made the most of their retirement than Phillip and his wife, E.J., who lived their dream of driving to Canada to hunt black bear not once, but four times. However, his greatest adventure was growing his relationship with Jesus. Phillip was baptized in September 2023, becoming born again in the love of his savior, Jesus Christ.
Phillip was preceded in death by his brother, Harry Conoly Jemison, his mother Isadora Morris Breed, and his step-father, Tom Avery Breed. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Eddy Jo Jemison; son Phillip Jemison, Jr. and his wife, Megan, and their two children, Vivian and Phillip; daughter Jessica Jemison-Williams and her husband, Aron; daughter Kara Jemison; daughter Sara Fraser and her husband, Brent, and their two daughters, Teagan and Cerys; daughter Joanna England and her husband, David, and their son Cooper; and daughter Lauri Nelson and her husband, Brian.
The family will receive friends on Monday, September 22, 2025, from 5:00 pm till 7:00 pm at Cashner Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 10:00 am in the Cashner Colonial Chapel. Interment will follow at Garden Park Cemetery. In lieu of cut flowers, the family asks that you make donations in Phillip’s name at Semper Fi & America’s Fund, or a live plant in his memory.
