More detail on this person: ELMEER, Phillip of Tierra Verde, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 at
Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa at 2:28 pm from complications of lung cancer. Born Oct. 3, 1942 in
Jamestown, NY, Phillip was the son of Sixten E. and Diane Siyufy Elmeer of Jamestown, NY. He was
preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Ricky T. Elmeer and Terrance Lee Elmeer.
Phillip is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Elmeer of Tierra Verde; his daughters, Terry Anne Short
of Zephyrhills, Tammy Campbell of Maui, HI, Christine Morris of Ft. Lauderdale, Amanda Prouty of
Maui, HI; and his sister, Diane H. Elmeer of Tampa. Also survived by his grandchildren Ashley,
Crystal, and Corey Short, Samantha and Heather Campbell, Meghan and Haley Morris, Peyton and
Ryder Prouty; and a great-grandaughter, four-week-old Parker Olivia; nieces, Stacey Elmeer, Raven
and Madison Chapman; nephew, Sean Pascoe; and sister-in-law Deborah Chapman.
Phillip joined the Army in 1960 when he was 17. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Green
Beret in the airborne division, and retired from the Army in June 1982 as a Lt. Col. 05.
After hundreds of wartime missions flying Huey, Apace and Cobra helicopters, Phillip's passion for
flying continued undiminished until his death.
Upon his retirement from the US Army, Phillip moved to Lake Padgett, FL where he and his family
joined a water ski performance team executing spectacular ski shows, including one featured in the
Guinness Book of World Records. Phillip's love of boats and the water continued. He took many long
trips on his boat 'Y Knot' to the Florida Keys for lobstering, and created gatherings for fun and
sun with family and friends in and around the many water spots of Florida, and the Caribbean.
Phil worked hard and played hard. He founded two extraordinary companies, EM Phillips and EMPad,
through which he made new friends and associates. He recently joined members of the Grace Family
congregation in the building of schools for children in Haiti. Phil had hoped to continue this work,
extending the same generosity of time and knowledge to this endeavor as he had to the many loves of
his life.
He was close to his large family, and instilled in them the virtues of courage and the value of
being one's self. He was a multi-dimensional man whose eyes sparkled when he smiled, when he held
one of his grandchildren, in the throes of a family gathering, or just conversing. He loved
children. A common picture is one of Phil holding a baby (usually a girl). He was the quintessential
entrepreneur, not just as a businessman, but in the many ways he imagined and embraced his life, his
family and friends.
"We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that death will tremble to take us."
Charles Bukowski Memorial gifts may be made in Phillip's name to Schools for Haiti, Inc.,
www.schoolsforhaiti.com
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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