Philip Ross McCaskill

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Philip Ross McCaskill, 65, passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. He was born Dec. 27, 1950 in Fukuoka, Japan to Joseph Marvin McCaskill and Charlotte Fougerat McCaskill. 

Phil was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church in Gonzales. He married Janis Gwen Connell on Sept. 15, 1972 in Gonzales. 

Phil was raised in Gonzales and graduated from Gonzales High School with the Class of 1969. Phil, along with his childhood friend Brad Jones, earned the rank of Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America before graduating. He attended Blinn Jr. College and Wharton Jr. College before transferring to Southwest Texas State University. 

After he and Janis married, Phil went to work in the oil fields before going to work for GVEC in 1973. He worked for GVEC for 35 years retiring in 2008. All the while, Phil had been working for the Gonzales Livestock Commission, starting when he was 14 years old and was helping with the Gulf Coast Livestock Commission until it was sold in the summer of 2015. 

Phil continued working his farm and enjoying one of his greatest pleasures, gardening. He maintained a large garden where he grew tomatoes, beans, peas, potatoes, onions and watermelons to name but a few of the plant varieties he would rotate in his annual garden. Phil gave most of his produce away to family, friends and to GCAM. 

Phil was a competitive golfer, unless he faced a two foot putt. Still, he always enjoyed his morning tee times with friends and the Wednesday evening scramble at the Independence Golf Course. He had the opportunity to play many courses through the years, golfing in Maryland to Las Vegas and throughout Texas and Louisiana. He loved watching and following his beloved sons as they competed in high school golf. 

Phil loved to cook, a talent arguably shared with his sons or they shared with him. Either way, he was celebrated for some of his special dishes, namely his chicken and dumplings, pecan pie and especially his very unique and highly touted chili. 

Phil was a hardworking man and he instilled that same work ethic into his sons, also teaching them how to have fun while always being productive. He was a complex man at times, stubborn yet always generous and loving. He worked hard and managed his finances conservatively and then out of nowhere he would thoughtfully buy his beloved wife a piece of jewelry for no prescribed occasion other than just because. Phil was a man with many gifts and he clearly followed the words of Pablo Picasso, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” So Phil gave of himself, his talents, his hard work and greatest of all, his love.

Philip Ross McCaskill is survived by his adoring wife, Janis McCaskill of Gonzales; sons and daughter-in-law, Charles Roy and Suzanne McCaskill of Frisco, Joseph Ross McCaskill of Mission; mother, Charlotte McKnight of Victoria; sister and brother-in-law, Rose Marie and Tom Jahnsen of Victoria; brother and sister-in-law, Winston “Bubba” and Angie McKnight of Richmond; grandchildren, Brian Eastwood, Corynne McCaskill, Sean Eastwood and Brennan McCaskill and former daughter-in-law, Elizabeth McCaskill. He was preceded in death by his father Joseph M. McCaskill; step-father, Winkie McKnight; and brothers, Charles and John McCaskill.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 in the Gonzales Presbyterian Church with Pastor Diana Whitley officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Gray, Ricky Kotwig, David Shelton, John Armstrong, Butch Jackson, Jim Avant and the Morning Golfers. 

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials in Phil’s name to the Presbyterian Church or the charity of one’s choice. The family will receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the church and after the services in the church fellowship hall.  

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.                       

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