Mark Alan Phillips

Mark Alan Phillips, 60, of Arkansas City, KS passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at William Newton Memorial Hospital.

Celebration of life services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, June 11th, 2022 at the Brown Center of Cowley County Community College, the family will greet friends in the Wright Room following the services. At 3:00 P.M. following services, there will be a dedication ceremony at the Cowley County Community College Track. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ALS Association, Alzheimer's Association, or Mark Phillips Memorial Scholarship.  Donations may be left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Arkansas City.

Mark was born on November 4, 1961, in Topeka, KS to parents James and Margaret (Logan) Phillips. He graduated from Northern Heights High School in 1979 and then attended Cloud County Community College graduating in 1981, he then received a bachelor’s in physical education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1984.  He received a Master of Science from the University of Berkley in 2001.  In August 1989 he was united in marriage to the love of his life Naomi Richards. Mark was a track coach starting at Cloud County Community College for 2 years, then spent 2 years at Kansas City Kansas Community College, and 12 years at Johnson County Community College. From 2003-2021 he was the head coach for the Cowley County Community College track and field program specializing in the pole vault, high jump, triple jump, long jump, hurdles, and sprints. Mark was inducted into the NJCAA Track Coach's hall of fame in 2021, Cowley Tigers Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Arkansas City. When Mark wasn’t coaching, he enjoyed golfing, riding motorcycles, bird hunting but most of all, spending time with his family.

Mark is survived by his wife Naomi of Arkansas City, children Katie Phillips of Manhattan, Joshua Phillips and Drew Bennett of Wichita, and Justin Phillips and wife Misty of Wichita. Mother Margaret Phillips and sister Kaye Holmberg are both of Topeka, KS. Mark is preceded in death by his father.