Larry Phillips, Sr., 67, was born August 18, 1948 to proud parents, the late Verdo and Pearline Phillips in Hope, Arkansas. Larry grew up in a loving Christian home. At a very young age, he joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church where he served as an usher and taught Sunday school. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Blue Springs, Missouri and later joined Bethany in KCMO. Larry attended Hopewell and Shover Street Elementary Schools. He played football for Henry C. Yerger High School and was #10 in the Honor Society of 67 graduating students in the class of 1966. He loved being apart of the class of 1966. As a young boy at the age of 8, while in the third grade Larry met a skinny little girl named Brenda Black Wright. He made it known who his baby was to all the little boys throughout elementary and high school, and that he would marry her some day. He wrote love letters and poems in his own way ('CC for city, SS for state, sorry baby, I forgot the date'). On April 2, 1967, Larry married his baby Brenda and two children were born to their union. He joined the United States Air Force in 1968 to include a tour in Okinawa and being honorably discharged in 1972. Larry returned to Kansas City and worked for the United States Postal Service, until retiring in 2008 after forty-two years and eleven months of service. He was also a Master Mason in the Prudence Lodge #6 of KCKS. Larry was a man of his word who had a gentle and warm smile. He believed you should work at what you want. His hobbies included cooking, fishing, watching tv and spending quality time with family; his grandchildren were his greatest delight. Humorously, he enjoyed people walking up to him asking for autographs as they thought he was Morgan Freeman. Larry departed this life on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at St. Mary's Hospital in Blue Spring, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Norman and Lee Grant; sister, Jessie Beene and several nephews. Those left to continue his legacy are: his beloved wife of forty-nine years, Brenda Phillips; son, Larry Phillips, Jr. (Jennifer) of Nixa, MO; daughter, Elder Larryelle Phillips (Shelly) of Baltimore, MD; brother, Lewis Phillips; sister, Joyce Moss; two granddaughters, Jordan Phillips and Harper Phillips; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 26, 11:00 a.m. at Barker Memorial Cathedral of Praise. Interment Swan Lake Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the church. Services conducted by Duane E. Harvey Funeral Directors. Condolences may be shared on our website.