Obituary, Visitation & Funeral Information

Phillip Meek Obituary
PHILLIP DEAN 'MICKEY' MEEK, 87 passed away on January 22, 2018 at the age of 87. He was in the family home in Waialua with his three children and his wife, Priscilla. Mickey was born in Iowa but grew up in Wibaux, Montana where his family was in the farming and ranching business. He liked to tell stories of how cold it was. For instance, he often told us how he would have to start a fire under his horse to warm it up before riding to school. Another example was getting the tractor started in a furrow and then running alongside it to keep from freezing. He was also a ‘mustanger’, rounding up wild horses from the canyons so they could be broken, trained and sold to the rodeos. He was an excellent horseman and passed that love on to his first son, Phil, who carried it on with style

As soon as he was old enough, Mickey joined the US Navy to head for warmer locations. One of those locations was Honolulu where he met and married a beautiful island girl named Priscilla Anne. The story is they were at a dance at the Honolulu YMCA and started shooting straw papers at each other. After some time getting to know the family and getting approval from Priscilla’s father Seraphine, they were married. This was when he started the family that would follow him as he was assigned in 9 different states over the course of his navy career. He served in the navy as an electrician for 20 years, doing a number of world tours or ‘cruises’. He would always bring home tons of pictures of the places he visited and sometimes new stereo or electronics systems he would get in Taiwan or Japan. He also brought dolls from various countries for Darlene, china, jewelry, cedar chests and interesting souvenirs like a mini Eiffel Tower and rosaries from the Vatican in Rome. In the navy, some of his duties included working on the application of nuclear power to electric generation in the ships and submarines the navy used. This was new technology and he also taught courses on how it would be managed as it was being developed.

Mickey made family trips across the country, when being reassigned, into family vacations. We visited so many beautiful parts of the country. After settling in a new home, we would still head out for trips to camp and fish. He taught our family to love and respect the outdoors. He also taught us how to tie fish hooks, start campfires and read maps to get from place to place. We used to joke that no matter where we were, Dad could find the worst dirt roads that would lead to the most beautiful places. One thing we found out as teenagers was that he was an amazing ice-skater. On an outing with a youth group from church he started doing jumps and spins and landing gracefully. We found out he learned his skills while skating to school on frozen rivers. Unfortunately, his display was cut short when his youngest son found out the ice was a lot harder than his head and had to go get some stitches.

After retiring from the navy he worked in Civil Service in San Diego and later at Pearl Harbor. Being unafraid of new challenges, he was assigned and worked as a manager for budgeting and allocations for the Public Works Center as the system was being completely computerized. It was a pretty challenging time and he and Priscilla were now back in Hawaii caring for Priscilla’s parents as they needed. Eventually they settled in Mililani where they lived for almost 35 years. Mickey became more and more interested in church and began to serve in the music ministry. He found new meaning in his life as a follower of Christ and the assurance that he was a child of God. He was always a man of few words but he touched others by making beautiful crosses. He would wear one to church and if someone mentioned they liked it, he would take it off and give it to them. He made many crosses, some with inlayed designs and gave them away to anyone who wanted them. That was his way of spreading the love and message of Christ.

Though somewhat quiet, he was friendly and generous. He impressed on his children the values of honesty, integrity and hard work. He worked alongside us kids, showing us and letting us learn by experience. He instilled a sense of accomplishment by allowing us to feel needed and take pride in family projects. When pouring concrete, if we wanted to leave our name and footprint, he let us. Those things remain to this day. He had a quiet sense of humor, enjoyed playing cribbage, building intricate things and growing orchids, (because Priscilla loves pretty things). He loved dancing and taught Darlene the basics starting at age 7. They even came in second at the Father-Daughter dance when Darlene was in high school. Music was a communal part of our family life even if it was young ones on pots and pans, Phil on trumpet, or guitar and Mom and Darlene on piano, harmonica and organ. Dad played rhythm guitar which Chuck would take up later. He had lots of old sheet music from his mom, our Grandma Blanche, which we enjoyed together. Dad was also a very involved parent helping out wherever we were involved like Catholic Youth Organization, scouting, music recitals and teaching us to drive a manual transmission, “DON’T SPILL THE COFFEE”

Mickey, our Dad, was a gentleman to the end and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla Anne Meek, sons, Phillip (Melissa) Meek Jr., Chuck (Carol) Meek, and his daughter Darlene (Steve) Smith. He had 9 grandchildren; Sarah, Raymond, Isaiah, Rachel, Jessica, Stephen, Kathryn, Emil, and Melissa. He also had 10 great grandchildren; Ava-Lani, Christina Rae, Alisia, Travis, Dillon, Krista, Hannah, Aaron, Liam and Samuel. His mother Bonnie Blanche Meek preceded him in death in 1977.

Visitation will be 5:30 pm Wednesday February 7, 2018 at Mililani Memorial Park and Mortuary's Makai Chapel followed by funeral service at 6:30 pm.

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