Harold Alfred Phillips, 80 years of age and a longtime Harborite, died on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, at his East Hoquiam home. He was born on Nov. 25, 1936, in Moclips, Wash. to Edwin Walter and Gretta Margaret (Adkins) Phillips.

He attended the Hoquiam area schools and during his sophomore year the family moved to Arizona. When he was 17 years of age he joined the United States Marine Corps. Following his military discharge he returned to the harbor area.

He had skippered charter fishing boats out of Westport and Alaska. He was also the captain on various river boats for 18 years on the Colorado River out of Laughlin, Nev. He had skippered a boat through the Panama Canal twice and been the captain on vessels out of Venezuela, South America and Central America.

Harold Alfred Phillips was married to Shirley Ann Ditton in 2012 in Arizona and they made their home in the East Hoquiam area.

Harold is survived by his wife, Shirley Ann Ditton of East Hoquiam; two sons, Glen Phillips and Bruce Phillips; a daughter, Susan Phillips; a sister, Carol Ostrom; a step-son, Wade Stover; his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Ditton and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Phillips; his brothers, Richard Phillips and John Phillips and his sister, Laura Roberts.

The family requests memorials be made to Harbors Home Health and Hospice, 201 – 7th Street in Hoquiam 98550 or to the Grays Harbor Fire District #10 (Wishkah), 4660 Wishkah Road, Aberdeen 98520.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at the Hoquiam Elks Lodge #1082, 624 K Street in Hoquiam, Washington.

Cremation arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street in Hoquiam.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.