Brian Keith Phillips

Brian Keith Phillips was born into this world on February 11, 1961, in Seattle, Washington to Joy and Don Phillips. Brian was a happy little boy who loved his parents and his siblings--oldest brother Duane, brothers Jeff and Tim and sisters, Dana and Kris.

After his parents were divorced, when Brian was a few years old, his mother, Joy, met Gary Casey in 1966. Gary, who at that time, was enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, soon moved his new bride and family to Portland, Oregon.

Brian grew up, as little boys do and he attended schools in the David Douglas School District. Brian and his brothers learned to play guitars during their childhood. His mother bought him his first guitar.

The family moved to McLean, Virginia in November of 1977. Brian was in his junior year at David Douglas School District at that time. He attended and graduated from George C. Marshall High School in Virginia and got a job at a local Deli to make some spending money. He became a great cook and one of the best employees that deli ever had!

In 1980, the family moved back to Portland. At that time, the economy was very slow in the Portland area, so Brian, Jeff and Tim, joined their brother Duane, in Arizona. For a while, the boys worked at Arizona Aluminum. Then they joined their sister Dana and her husband in Lancaster, California. This is when Brian broke ground into the HVAC industry as a plumber. He began working for his brother-in-law, Chuck Hicks.

A few years later, Brian and his brother Jeff moved back to Portland and both got jobs at several HVAC residential shops in the Portland area over the next few years. In 2002, Brian began working at American Heating, Inc. Brian learned his trade beyond imagination. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. He worked his way up the ladder from plumber to Foreman. He loved working for American Heating. You could hear him say, “American Heating is the best company I have ever worked for”. “They were like family” he’d say.

Brian’s love for music and honing his ability to play guitar continued. Brian was a self-taught rhythm guitarist. He had a natural ear for music. He could hear a song on the radio and before an hour was up, he had the chord arrangement down and was playing the song on his ’72 Les Paul! He played as good and sounded just like Eddie Van Halen, his idol. He also could saw pick like Stevie Ray Vaughn! Brian loved to entertain others with the sweet sound of his guitars. He would practice every Friday after work for two to three hours at high levels—faithfully! Just ask the neighbors. Everyone in the neighborhood could hear him practice and play.

Brian met his wife, Lori, at a local athletic club, where she was teaching a water aerobics class in 1992. Brian took her class and fell madly in love with her. He continued to take her class too. The couple was married on September 17, 1994, in Vancouver, Washington at the Victorian House. The couple lived in Gresham for four years and then moved to Troutdale in 1998.

Another hobby Brian had was riding ATV’s (quads) at Sand Lake and Winchester Bay with his friends. Brian fully restored a Yamaha Banshee, complete with chrome from head to toe. His pride and joy! His bike was one of the fastest bikes on the sand—and he liked it that way!!

Brian loved his family, his friends and his neighbors—he loved all people! He loved to make people laugh and smile. He was known for cracking jokes and being the life of the party. He loved to play his guitar for friends and family.

On December 3, 2020, at the age of 59, Brian went home to be with our Lord and Savior in Heaven. He passed away from pneumonia and respiratory failure due to contracting COVID-19. Brian was not afraid to die because he knew he was going to be with Jesus and see the face of God. Brian loved the Lord with all his heart and soul.

Brian leaves his wife, Lori Phillips of Troutdale; step-dad, Gary Casey of Florida; brother, Duane Phillips of Ohio; brother, Tim Phillips of Gresham; sister, Dana Hicks, of Vancouver, WA; sister, Kris, of Portland; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunt and uncle and cousins. Brian’s mother, Joy Casey and brother, Jeff Phillips predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations to help offset burial arrangements and costs.

Please send c/o Lori Phillips, PO Box 111, Troutdale, Oregon 97060