Phillip "Phil" Drake Jimenez

Phillip was born on October 27, 1948 to the parents of Brigido Reyes Jimenez and Bessie Geneace Osborne Jimenez at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He married Karen Sue Caywood on January 8, 1970 in Junction City, Kansas. Before then, he served in Vietnam with the 1st infantry division, known as “The Big Red One” from February 20, 1968 to February 17, 1971. He was glad to serve his country. While serving in the Army, he received the National Defense service medal, Vietnam service medal, two Purple Hearts, O/S bar, combat infantryman badge, Vietnam campaign medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with a bronze star medal. He was also an expert sharpshooter with (M-14), a marksman (M-16) and expert (M-60). He completed education and training with code of conduct, Geneva Convention, and military justice. These were the honors he received during his service. He received an Honorable discharge as Private First Class Jimenez. His dynamic professionalism and selfless courage contributed to saving friendly lives and contributed to the successful outcome of the encounter. Private First Class Jimenez showed an outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty and personal bravery in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the First Infantry Division and the United States Army. He earned all of that for heroism in connection with military operations against hostile force serving as a driver of an armored personnel carrier with his company. After two rocket-propelled grenades disabled his track he braved the enemy fusillade and moved several casualties out of the armored vehicle then he climbed up to the top of the track using his machine gun raiding into the enemy. During the time in the service, he was injured in his neck.
He had lots of friends. He went to the races, in his younger days, he had a lead foot and outran cops, his mother, and she out ran him in lots of racing cars. He worked at Tinker Air Force, sold firewood, watermelons, during his time. He had a truck called “Old Yeller”. He colored it several colors. Once he thought he was going to have Hank Williams, Jr. sing at the prior. He was very happy and loved everyone. When saying his rosary the list of people was almost as long as the rosary. He continued his schooling in Chanteau U-Tech as Heating & Air Conditioning. He remembered as he grew up-ham and beans, cornbread. He would give his last dollar. He gave to the poor and homeless. He lived in Harrah, Oklahoma at his parents’ house it was called “The Big House” because of being in a large family. His favorite shows were “Little House on the Prairie”, “The Walton’s”, “Mash” and “Matlock”. He would pull pranks as your looking in the air, nothing there, saying “April Fools”. As kids growing up, he would say “Oh no Savi, see Loie”. He built a treehouse, due to having his own valley. He was Catholic and as a family after church, he, my mother, and myself would go to Jimmy’s Egg. He took care of lots of people. He would teach you lots of talents, but he would make you be right there to learn yourself. He had two dogs, Charlie and China. He was a cancer survivor. He loved his country, family and friends. He was a proud Vietnam Veteran. He went to the Vietnam Veterans Reunion. He was a wonderful father, one that I am very proud to say I was part of his life. To call him my father, there was a saying that love you later never goodbye. He will be greatly loved and missed. If anything learned, don’t take things for granted and keep pushing on. Stop and smell the roses.
He left this world on January 1, 2022, surrounded by his family, when he went to be with God and Jesus.
He is preceeded in death by his parents; a sister, Rose Lee Jimenez Garey; brother, Robert Jimenez; daughter, Kelly Mae Skipper; grandson, Ernie Blake Skipper. He has two sisters, Cindy Newby in Oklahoma and Leasa Wattenbarger in Kansas City; three brothers, Tom Jimenez and Danny Jimenez in Oklahoma and Mickey Jimenez in Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Karen of Kansas; daughter, Tracy Karlowksi in Kansas; Phillip “B.R.” Jimenez in Larned, Kansas; grandchildren, Kara Lyn Jean Skipper, Dasiy Mae Skipper in Oklahoma, Faith Marie Karlowki, Wayne Alan Karlowki in Kansas, Chripher “B.R.” Jimenez in Cheney, Kansas. During Phillips lifetime he was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather to J.R. Matthew Madden II, Sayla, Jarobb, Daniel, Gene, Bourbon, River and Blake. Phillip also had several nieces and nephews.
Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church from 9:30-10:30AM. A rosary prayer will be held at 10:30 AM with Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00AM. Burial will take place at Memory Lane Cemetery in Harrah, Oklahoma on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 1:00 PM. Memorial Contributions can be made to SBA Cancer Society. Please sign his online guestbook at www.carlsonkirbymorris.com

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