RICKETTS, Phil Kay

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Friday, April 10, 2009 Phil Ricketts, a resident of Lake Havasu City, died peacefully Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Phil was born Sept. 10, 1925, in Oakland, Calif., the older of two children. He graduated from Cache la Poudre high school in 1944 during World War II. He met his wife, Eva Maggard, a Bellevue resident, in 1944, and they were married after the war in 1946. Phil and Eva spent most of their adult life in the Fort Collins, Colo., area where they raised their four children before moving to Alamosa, Colo., in 1978. Phil spent 25-plus years in the military in two branches. He served in the Navy during the war, returned to Fort Collins and attended Colorado State University, where he played football. He rejoined the U.S. Army as a full-time member of the Colorado National Guard, where he served as an artillery officer. He spent several years with the U.S. Postal Service and ended his career with Cal-Gas. Phil is survived by son, Richard (Teri), of Alliance, Neb.; daughter, Debra McDonald (Ron), of Lodgepole, Neb.; son, Michael (Robin), Laguna Niguel, Calif.; daughter (and caretaker) Julie (Dave) Lauer, of Lake Havasu City; eight beautiful grandchildren. His wit, humor, and love for other people will be missed by all. A memorial and celebration of Phil’s life will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 111 Bunker Drive. A reception will follow. Donations to the Hospice of Havasu, 365 S. Lake Havasu Ave., Lake Havasu, AZ 86403, in lieu of flowers please.