Phil A. Maddux, 88, died on July 5, 2023, at High Plains Retirement Village in Lakin. He was born on Nov. 9, 1934, in Garden City, the son of Anson C. and Christabelle (Downing) Maddux. In his early years, his family lived in Holcomb before moving to the family farm north of Deerfield, where he graduated from high school in 1952. He married Arlene (Chain) Webb on March 22, 1990, and spent the remainder of his life spoiling her.
Phil knew from a young age that farming was his passion. He was able to continue farming after high school with his father and uncle on the family farm and later continued the tradition with his two sons and their families. He joined the Garden City Army Reserve in 1958 and remained a member until 1963, receiving honors as an Outstanding Instructor in 1961. In 1983, he was one of four farmers who purchased Sante Fe Motors in Deerfield, which was renamed Deerfield Ag, to allow local farmers to continue to purchase equipment and parts locally.
One would rarely see Phil without his furry four-legged companions. He had many dogs over the years and each one was always his self-proclaimed best dog in the world. He was known by many of his love for dogs and how well his four-legged friends were treated, oftentimes riding in the passenger seat of the pickup, getting fed from the table, and even having fans and air conditioning where they slept so they didn’t get too hot. His dogs often had claimed the passenger seat of his pickup as their own and if you were to ride with him, you may end up with a golden retriever in your lap with their head out the window because you were, after all, sitting in their seat.
The one thing that Phil loved more than his dogs and farming was his family and people. He absolutely adored his wife and family and traveled many miles over the years watching his kids and grandkids play sports and participate in other activities. He believed in an honest day’s work, and you would struggle to find someone who could work harder. Although laziness was one of his pet peeves, he was still willing to help anyone that needed it and believed that you should love everybody. He never met a stranger and would sit and visit with anyone anywhere, sometimes for much longer than they had probably expected as he certainly had the gift of gab. He always wanted everyone to be “happy, happy, happy.”
Phil is survived by his loving family including his wife, Arlene Maddux; two sons Kirk (Kim) Maddux and Kent (Diane) Maddux; one daughter Jana (Randy) Dietz; stepson Jerrad (Kim) Webb; step-daughter Jessica (Colby) Katz; sister LeRoyce Maddux; six grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, grandson Garrett Maddux, great-granddaughter Raelyn Maddux and his brother Lyle Maddux.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 10 at the Deerfield Methodist Church, with Pastor Greg Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow at the Deerfield Cemetery with military funeral honors conducted by the Kansas Army National Guard and the Southwest Kansas Veteran's Funeral Honor Guards.
Visitation will from at 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday all at Garnand Funeral Home in Lakin. The family suggests memorials given to the Deerfield Methodist Church or to Ronald McDonald House, both in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be given at garnandfuneralhomes.com.