Thank you to everyone who joined us online for Phil's memorial.
It was a very moving time with tears and laughter as we watched, listened, and shared in the memory of a special man not easily forgotten. The Lord keep you, Phil, until we see you again in His Eternal Kingdom!
Giving
The memorial organizer requested donations in honor of Philip William Travis
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries Genesis House I, Ii, Iii & Oasis
The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, a non-profit corporation, is committed to sharing the gospel of the... moreThe Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, a non-profit corporation, is committed to sharing the gospel of the love of Jesus Christ, providing hope to the hopeless, disadvantaged, abused and homeless men, women and children of our community. In “rebuilding the inner-city, one life at a time" by ministering to the total person-body, soul, and spirit – we help them become faithful Christians, discipled into a local church, rehabilitated, employed, and living productive lives in restored families
We created a GatheringUs memorial to celebrate the life of Phil Travis. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort.
OBITUARY
Philip William Travis went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 22, 2021 after succumbing to complications of an undiagnosed neural illness.
He was much loved and will be missed by Shauna, his wife of 21 years, and his daughters, Montana, 19, Georgia, 17, and Virginia, 12.
He will also be missed by his parents, William and Lucille, his sister Christine, and brother Bryan, his nephews Zachariah and Joshua, as well... see more
Philip William Travis went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 22, 2021 after succumbing to complications of an undiagnosed neural illness.
He was much loved and will be missed by Shauna, his wife of 21 years, and his daughters, Montana, 19, Georgia, 17, and Virginia, 12.
He will also be missed by his parents, William and Lucille, his sister Christine, and brother Bryan, his nephews Zachariah and Joshua, as well as extended family, friends, associates, and neighbors worldwide.
I was a bit too emotional today to be able to share my thoughts about my dear Uncle Phil over Zoom, so I figured I would do so briefly here.
I really looked up to my Uncle. He was one of the funniest people that I have ever met. He would often tell... moreI was a bit too emotional today to be able to share my thoughts about my dear Uncle Phil over Zoom, so I figured I would do so briefly here.
I really looked up to my Uncle. He was one of the funniest people that I have ever met. He would often tell jokes that made many of us burst out laughing, especially stories about my cousins when they were younger, as we sat around a dinner table when we were all gathered together. His cunning sarcasm was also something to be noted (and feared, as no one was safe from being the target of his sarcasm). If I’m ever considered to be a clever or sarcastic person, 100% of that will be credited to him. He was also extremely kind and compassionate. He tended to treat my brother and I as though we were his own children. Whenever he visited with my Aunt and cousins, he would be sure to spend a lot of time with us. He would sit near us when the whole family was together and chat and ask questions. He would also make it a point to always take us out and ask us how we were doing, what plans we had for our futures, how we were doing spiritually, etc. He asked questions about us, and genuinely cared about what we had to say, but never withheld his great (and often funny) opinions about what we were telling him. He clearly had lived an amazing and full life, and my brother and myself always cherished the stories he would tell us, and the wisdom that he would offer to us. He really made us feel loved and special. And he was a great role model for both of us, which was critical for the two of us growing up. I find it so amazing to have known someone who was both so sensationally funny, and so deeply caring about other people. I think I can speak for both my brother and myself (i’m the older one, after all) when I say that we are really, really gonna miss him. Rest easy, Uncle Phil. less
So bright and fun. Hugh and I enjoyed our trips to Tarrytown, sledding down the big mountain (a hill in reality). An excellent family man. Served on a mission in Tonga together. Documented his grandmother and Nana's mission in Harlem. Job 14:14,15
As most of you know, Phil had exceptional conversation skills, he could persuade, debate, inquire and make you feel at ease and appreciated all at the same time. As Phil's first younger sibling I was privy to his skillful... moreMemories of my big brother
As most of you know, Phil had exceptional conversation skills, he could persuade, debate, inquire and make you feel at ease and appreciated all at the same time. As Phil's first younger sibling I was privy to his skillful art of conversation first hand and was 'talked into' many an escapade. One time he told me to jump into a lake we were picnicking at and he assured me he would follow-I jumped, he did not-
Another time Phil, persuaded me to open the gate to the donkey stable at the Kings College country club, so that “'we could ride them'”-we did not ride them, they got out and made a rather large mess of the surrounding kiddie pool and manicured grounds. His exuberance for life was infectious and I gladly followed as we raced our bikes across freshly painted yellow lines, ate bread out of the back of a parked bread truck and our favorite call-of-warning while riding in streets; “car car c-a-r stick your head in a jelly jar”1. I adored, still do, my big brother and have many fond memories of playing for hours outside, conquering castles, cowboys and Indians and flying off to far away places.
Phil had a way that made stories come alive and during our many long family road trips he would keep me entertained, the destinations were delightful but the adventure began in the car as Phil would give dramatic reenactment of childhood stories mile after mile.
His young childhood was a clear peek into the creative imaginative skillful conversationalist he would grow into. It is amazing to follow his life and see how God used those skills he gave Phil, to full-fill the purpose he created Phil for. I am so grateful he was my brother, in my family, he was truly a gift.
I have posted some 'early years' photos, in many of which we are not smiling, photography was a serious business back then and if the entire family was in the photo then rest assured a stranger was taking our picture. Though we may look serious, have no doubt, that seriousness only lasted as long as the flash bulb.
Love you dearly, cant wait till we meet again in Heaven.
Fondly,
Diggs, (my Phil given- nickname)
1 We would ride bikes down a rather narrow and very steep street. One of us would be the watch out, and if we saw a car coming we would chant the warning to the biker who would know to quickly move to the sidewalk. less
My prayers and condolences to Shauna, Montana, Georgia, Virginia and those who, like myself, mourn the loss of a great soul and a good friend.
I first worked with Phil at the TV sausage factory that was the Shenken Family Business, aka Visual... moreMy prayers and condolences to Shauna, Montana, Georgia, Virginia and those who, like myself, mourn the loss of a great soul and a good friend.
I first worked with Phil at the TV sausage factory that was the Shenken Family Business, aka Visual Productions '80/'90, here in Toronto during the toddler years of Canadian Independent Production. Together we crafted scripts for a programme called "Hollywood Camera", trying to wring out servicable half hours tied to old movie "Coming Attractions", often of terrible technical quality. I think we did OK work given the material, and it was always fun collaborating with Phil and providing feedback to each other's work. This was on top of all the writing Phil was doing in collaboration with our mutual friend John Whitcher on "Brownstone Kids", a children's show that aired on YTV from 1991–95 - over 200 episodes (!) of crafts, stories and kid-led hi-jinks produced by John and written by Phil.
With the demise of Visual sometime in the early/mid-90s, the three of us kept in touch and met whenever we could at a variety of venues for drinks (or in Phil's case, multiple coffees) to discuss scripts and other projects John and Phil were working on and to catch up on whatever else was going on in our lives. My wife Madelyn and I were honoured to travel to the Ottawa area to be a part of Shauna and Phil's wedding, and remember fondly all the meet-ups at Doris and John's for JW's birthday and other special events, as well as our visit to Dundalk and the night Phil, Shauna and all three girls (Virginia was a babe-in-arms at the time) came down to help celebrate my 50th at the local 5-pin bowling alley.
To know that I won't hear again Phil's cynical but somehow always hopeful points of view, experience his extremely dry sense of humour or witness the affectionate verbal jabs he and John would take at each other whenever they got together saddens me greatly. But, because of the obvious love he had and shared with his family and friends, I know too that the Lord has welcomed Phil with open arms, and - who knows? - perhaps even a cup of coffee or two. RIP my friend.
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