Earl Norton Phillips was born October 23, 1923, in Manhattan, KS to Kenneth W. Phillips and Ramona (Norton) Phillips.  He was the 4th child in a family of 7.  He died March 5, 2019, at his pleasant home at Ridgewood Rehab and Care Center in Seward.

He grew up on the family dairy farm, which nurtured his love for dairy cattle in general, and purebred Holsteins in particular.  He was a graduate of Stockdale High School and of Kansas State Agricultural College in nearby Manhattan.  He took a hiatus in his college career to help the war effort by working on the home farm and helping other farmers.  He graduated in 1950.  While at college he developed his skill at showing and judging cattle.  In his freshman year he was the Champion Showman at the Little American Royal Cattle show.  He continued after graduation, successfully showing the family's purebred Valla Vista Holsteins and judging at many fairs and shows.   He had an instinctive talent when dealing with animals.

In the 1950's the Army Corps of Engineers decided that a dam and subsequent lake should be built in the Blue River Valley for flood control.  In spite of a hard fought campaign, the farmer residents of the valley lost and had to leave their fertile fields to be flooded and their rocky pastureland to lay idle.  Earl, his mother and his brothers, Curtis and Alan and their families relocated to a farm near Beaver Crossing, where they continued their farming and dairy operations.  Earl was the herdsman, and through careful breeding developed many high producing, champion animals whose bloodlines continue to influence the dairy industry today.  He maintained his herdsman duties into his 80's, when a fall from the back of a grain truck resulted in a broken and replaced hip.

Earl loved his Lord and was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church and most recently, West Fairview Mennonite Church, where he found many dear friends.  Those who knew Earl will miss his smile and his sweet nature.

He is survived by his sister, Norma Casford of Whittier, CA; sisters-in-law, Eleanor Phillips of Holton, KS and Donna Phillips of Westmorland, KS and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by sisters, Mary Phillips and Ruth Prejean and brothers, Harlan, Curtis and Alan; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Casford and Pat Prejean, Sr. and sister-in-law, Gladys Phillips.  To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Earl.