Phil passed away in his home Friday, January 16, 2026, in the quiet of the early morning after an amazing homecoming gathering of friends and family. There was food and drinks, great stories and most of all laughter. Even an after-hours concert.

That quiet early morning he was surrounded by his family, his best friends and Tippy who never left his bedside. His heavenly angels were present to receive him.

So much love

Phil was born in Arlington, Texas to Lillie Mae and Robert Wesley Watkins, a Texas Aggie and a German country girl, meeting through friends. He is the youngest brother to Bonnie and Bobby. They've known him and loved him since the day he was born and always will. The love of his life and his "angel "is his wife Shelly. They met through a mutual friend as well. The deal was sealed when he asked her to the zoo. His Pride and Joy are his sons, Dillon Wesley and Brody Ray. Their beautiful wives, Krista and Jessica are the precious daughters he never had.

They brought him the Light through the toughest times, his grandchildren Liam Wesley, Layton Ray, and Kollyns Roux. He always had a smile hearing about or seeing those rascals. He is meeting and holding Weslie Kate before she gets here. She knows pawpaws love. Shelly's sister Debbie and husband Billy and Aunt Tommye and their extended families have been close to Phil's heart. Phil also has Uncle Karl, Aunt Virginia, and Aunt Betty and Nina, who always surrounded him in love and lifted him up in prayer. He has so many cousins it would take up half a page to name them all. His cousin "best friend "Doug has been a constant in his life. There must be a special mention of all his girls you know who you are. Then there are those buzzards … part of so many memories. They are woven in the fabric of the life of Phil "Watkins". It is a very special thing to have lifelong friends that witness all the firsts in your life. Phil knows the value of a good friend. He will continue to attend the annual Buzzard Hunt (look up guys), where no hunting will be done. His boys are now in the flock of buzzards and know the value of lifelong friendships.

Friends oh my goodness he has so many, old and young, too many to name and some with unknown names.

His best friends Robyn and John allowed him to leave this life in peace, knowing Shelly, Dillon and Brody and their families would always be guided and cared for.

Phil was a city boy with long hair who loved Brenham country life, animals, gardening, BBQs, beer and the gatherings of family and friends. He wanted his boys to have an experience that was grounded in his favorite childhood experiences. Shelly and Phil created that life together for the boys. This legacy is being passed forward to his grandkids by Dillon and Brody. He was an avid sports fan and a scrappy little athlete. Watching sports gave him comfort when he needed to rest or could not sleep. Phil was also a secret fan of He and Shelly's favorite soap operas or series, on Netflix and Nightly Jeopardy. Nature documentaries were also favorites. He knew all the greatest hits of Roger Miller. Now the boys and their friends do too. He was smart like his daddy and tender-hearted like his momma and brother. He is an inspiration to his sister. Probably to everyone that knew him. All these treasured moments and love-filled experiences are being passed on through his boys to their children and their friends as well. Phil lives on. He graduated from UTA and worked until he couldn't. Phil said prayers every night. He had a list he kept in his mind. We were all on his list. He invited Jesus to every meal. This too is being passed on by family and friends to their family and friends. Jesus was always welcomed into Phil's heart and home.

Phil is the bravest strongest man we know. The courage he quietly brought to his life is rare. His strength cannot be measured on the physical scale. The strength of his spirit could only be witnessed by the ones with the eyes to see and it was amazing to behold. Phil was a warrior when it came to his battle with prostate cancer. He gave everything he had to stay here for us all. He gave all these things without complaint or self-pity. He helped others battling cancer with his positive mindset and encouragement. Hell, even his doctors were amazed and loved him too. Phil stayed with us in his physical body as long as he could. The morning of his passing, he showed us he was with us still. Outside, in the golden sunrise, buzzards flocking and circling his home, in the powerful wind and in our laughter and tears.

May you know his spirit is always with you. He is there in the flight of the buzzards, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a gust of wind, when you let yourself feel the tenderness of life with tears and always, always in laughter. It was his favorite emotion. This is also being passed forward through his boys and his grandbabies. He is so happy his life intertwined with each of us. We now move forward with the inspiration of Phil's life and a promise to him we will be there for each other through it all…

He also wants you to know he is the funny one and that tears and laughter can heal, that memories can comfort and love lives on forever.

Lastly, Everybody loves Phil,

PS, He also loves you.