Galen Claude Phillips

Galen Claude Phillips, 71, passed away on December 19, 2020 at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. He was born on August 29, 1949 in Las Animas to Albert & Eva Jean (Gore) Phillips.

Galen married his first wife Beverly in 1966 and had 2 children, Albert and Tina.

Galen joined the army when he was 19 years old and served 2 tours in the Vietnam conflict and another overseas in Germany.

He had various “paying jobs” to supplement his lifelong love of animals and ranching. He truly preferred the company of animals. He worked for the Veterans Administration at Fort Lyon CO, first as a Federal Police Officer and retired as a boiler plant operator. After retirement he devoted himself to the care of his parents and their ranch.

He married Sharon and her daughter Tracy in 1991 and settled in the town of Cheraw. He never walked away from a neighbor who needed help. One neighbor had a cow that would end up upside down in a ditch frequently, Galen would stop, help her to her feet and then tell the owner what had happened. Even in this time of caution, he always stopped by people on the road to ask if he could help.

He was a strong man who had no patience for broken ribs, broken ankle, knee and shoulder surgeries. He saw no reason that breaking ice and feeding the horses did not count as physical therapy.

His service in Vietnam haunted him the rest of his life. He sought help and completed a PTSD program with the VA. He then returned to his community and organized a group for vets to help them with the skills he had learned. Through this work with others he was able to help himself find some peace with his past.

His duty to his family and friends was powerful. He always took care of others before his own physical or mental needs. He was able to relax in his home in Cheraw creating a sanctuary for his pet horses, his wife and himself. He did not easily share his thoughts, believing it was his burden alone. His family and friends who saw him the last few years could see him finally start to look older and become tired.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon of the family home; children, Albert Phillips of La Junta; Tina (Shane) Leoffler of Flagler, CO; Tracy (Scott) Gunderson of Shelly, MN; sister, Susan (Dale) Morelan of Las Animas; grandchildren, Jarrod (Callie) Leoffler, Kyle (Cecillia) Leoffler, Trent Leoffler, and Bryden Schmelzer; great-grandchildren, Shadry and Paul Shane Leoffler; numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Albert Gale Phillips.

A Funeral service will be held on Tuesday 29, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel with Bishop Jared Efrid of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officiating. Visitation will be held Monday, December 28, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel and Tuesday prior to service from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Ft. Lyon National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. with military honors by the Las Animas American Legion Post #6.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.