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PHILLIPS -- Dr. Norman A. Phillips and Heather E. Phillips both passed away at the age of 81. Heather passed away after a long illness on March 29, 2005. Norman suffered a heart attack hours later, and died the following day. Heather was born on February 18, 1924, in Sheffield, England, and Norman was born twelve days later, on March 2nd, in a farmhouse in southwest Saskatchewan, where his grandparents had settled as homesteaders from England. Norman and Heather were married while Norman was an officer of the Canadian Army during WWII. They would have celebrated their 59th anniversary in April. In 1953 they left the prairies of Manitoba, Canada for Los Lunas, NM. Dr. Phillips, a graduate of Ontario Veterinary College in Ontario, Canada, established the first veterinary practice in Valencia County, treating large and small animals throughout the state, including Roy Roger's horses and the Budweiser Clydesdales. Serving as a consultant to The Albuquerque Zoo, the Phillips' property in Los Lunas housed African lions, ostriches, and other exotic wildlife as patients from time to time. Dr. Phillips was also instrumental in contributing to the early agricultural development of the middle Rio Grande Valley, and was considered one of the foremost equine practitioners in the Southwest. As a young woman, Heather Phillips was a student of one of Isadora Duncan's disciples, and she taught ballet to children when she and Norman first arrived in Los Lunas. As a registered nurse she worked at Belen General Hospital, assisted Dr. Wittwer at Los Lunas school clinics, and later volunteered for many years at the Veteran's Hospital in Albuquerque. Norman and Heather are survived by their sons, Andrew Phillips of Los Lunas and Sheldon Phillips of Los Angeles; their daughter, Pamela Phillips Silva of Los Angeles; and their granddaughter, Lucia Silva of Los Angeles. Norman is also survived by his brother, Howard Phillips of Sioux Falls, SD. Arrangements were made through French's Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
        Published on: Sun April 03, 2005