Daniel L. "Danny" Phillips' Obituary
Daniel L. “Danny” Phillips
November 27, 1943 – May 11, 2025
Danny Phillips, age 81, of Gainesville, Florida, passed peacefully into our Lord’s arms on May 11, 2025, of natural causes. He was born on November 27, 1943, in Miami, Florida, to Helen Victoria Mark and Angush Drew Phillips. Danny was the third of six children—four sisters and one brother.
He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1962 and went on to become a skilled journeyman pipefitter and welder, working for W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. In his spare time, Danny developed a deep passion for airboats—both running and building them. His custom “Phillips” hulls became well known and respected among airboat enthusiasts.
Throughout his career, Danny was always “doing or creating something.” After retiring from W.W. Gay at age 61½, he turned his passion into a full-time endeavor, building airboats in his backyard shop. In addition to rigging airboats, he expanded his business to include ceramic coating.
Danny leaves behind his wife of over 18½ years, Dianne, and his children: J. Danny Phillips (Lynn), Dawn Kerce (James), Dwayne Phillips (Tara), and Brian Phillips (Holly). He is also survived by ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and his siblings: Arline Phillips-Han; Judith Anne Bernecker (Donald); Linda Lai (Peter); R. Glenn Phillips (Kristin); and Renelle Ramirez (Octavio).
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date on a nearby lake—a place where Danny always felt at peace.
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