JOHNSON COUNTY, TN - OBITUARIES - Dayton James Phillips, 13 Nov 2004
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On November 13, 2004, Dayton James Phillips went home to be with His 
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dayton began his life on December 9, 1916, in a small cabin on top of 
a mountain in Johnson County. He was the second of 10 children born to 
Cornelius and Hester Burton Phillips.

He left home in 1935 to join the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was a 
member of Company 3453, Campt NP-4. He worked in Tennessee and North 
Carolina cutting trails and helping to develop the Great Smoky Mountain 
National Parks.

He was inducted in the U.S. Army on August 21, 1941. He served with 
Company F 121st Infantry. He served as a Light Mortar Crewman. He 
participated in battles and campaigns in Rhineland, Normandy, N. France, 
Ardennes, and central Europe. He was decorated with the "European, African, 
Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon", five Bronze Stars, and the American Defense 
Service Ribbon. He served on the front lines for nine months and 20 days. 
Out of 1,800 replacements, he was one of two men who were not wounded or 
killed in combat. He was honorably discharged on June 28, 1945. 

It was in a fox hole in Normandy, France that Dayton came to know his Lord 
and Savior Jesus Christ. At that time, he promised the Lord that, if He 
allowed him to return to American soil, that he would live for him. He 
never went back on that promise.

When he returned home, he began work at North American Rayon Corporation, 
where he retired in 1978. He worked in the finishing and dying department. 
While working at the plant, he met and married Amanda Mays in 1946. They 
spent 50 years together in their Christian home. They walked side by side 
in their work and love for the Lord until she went home to Heaven in 1996.

In 1975, he and Amanda became charter members of Harbor Light Baptist Church. 
Dayton attributes his long life and abundant blessings to the fact that he 
was never ashamed to stand and praise his Lord. He served on the board of 
directors of Evangelist Toonie Cash until his health caused him to resign.

He leaves behind one daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Roy Spores, of 
Johnson City; two granddaughters, Anna Whaley, of North Carolina, and 
Amanda Whaley, of West Virginia, and one great granddaughter, Maya Barnes. 
Other family members include one sister, Maxine Landry, of Cape Coral, Fla.; 
and four brothers, Elmer Phillips, of Adah, Penn.; Ernest Phillips, of Boise, 
Ida.; C.C. Phillips, Jr., Butler, and Aubrey Phillips, Mountain City.
In addition to his parents, Cornelius Phillips and Hester Burton Phillips, 
and his wife, Amanda Mays Phillips, he was preceded in death by two sisters, 
Irene Morrell and Chestile Manfield, and two brothers, Charlie Phillips and 
Thomas Phillips.

The family will receive friends on Monday, November 15, 2004 from 6 to 8 p.m. 
at Harbor Lights Baptist Church, in the Central Community. The family will 
also be available to receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. before the funeral. 
The funeral will be held Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 2 p.m. at Harbor 
Light Baptist Church with Pastor David Burrell officiating. Music will be 
provided by musicians Linda Turner and Lori Deloach; music directors, Charlie 
Palmer and Evelyn Kelly; soloists, Michelle Kelley, Janet Overbay, and Cathy 
Davis; the Harbor Light Quartet and the Harbor Light combined choir. Active 
pallbearers will be Larry Maupin, Larry Miller, Larry Chase, Steve Murray, 
Jeff Turner, and Gene Gouge. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Harbor 
Light Baptist Church and special friends, Cecil Stitt, Oscar Trivette, 
Turner Triplett and George Haney. If you prefer to make a memorial instead 
of flowers, these may be made to the Harbor Light Baptist Church Mission 
Fund, P.O. Box 1162, Johnson City, TN 37601. He leaves behind a lasting 
memory in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by his 
family, church and community. Directions to the church: Take old Elizabethton 
Highway to Holiday Market, turn left onto Smalling Road, proceed one mile, 
church is on the right. Burial will be held at Happy Valley Memorial Park. 
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is in charge of arrangements.

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