Philip Hersee Coit affectionately known as Phil, passed away peacefully in Fayetteville on September 21, 2023, with his family by his side. Phil is survived by his daughters, Felicia Pasley and her husband Wade, Belle Druding and her husband Kyle, and his son, Kury Coit-Campbell. He is also survived by his sister, Deborah Smith and her husband Bill; his sister, Susie Williams and her husband Terry; his brother, Mike Coit and his wife Lori and his granddaughters, Harper Pasley and Sophia Coit.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Chapin Coit and Mary Bell Eubanks.
Phil was born in Buffalo, New York on May 20, 1947. In the early 1950s the family lived in East Aurora, New York and Hudson, Ohio. He shared fond memories of those years living where the lakes freeze over, everyone plays hockey, and Sundays are for the Browns. The family moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1957 where despite the heat he and his sisters settled into life as Texans. As a teenager, Phil was handsome and maybe a bit rebellious splitting his time between San Francisco and Dallas. By the late 1960s Phil was on the road in a van traveling the Pacific Coast Highway before moving to Eureka Springs in 1971.
Phil spent the next 52 years intertwined in the fabric of Eureka Springs. From peddling leather goods at the long forgotten West Mountain Family Leather Shop to pouring a beer at the High Hat, he wore many hats. None, though, were as important to him as being an electrician. He was a consummate tradesman who took great pride in his work.
Phil loved sailing, reading, and taking care of his plants. If the wind was more than 5 and less than 15 mph he could be found passing a weekday afternoon on Beaver Lake “coming about” while enjoying the thrill and peacefulness the lake so generously provides. An avid reader, he had an impressive number of magazine subscriptions which could be found stacked high on his table while Jazz played in the background.
While not the most effusive soul, Phil adored his children and grandchildren and could be heard bragging about them to friends about town.
Over the past five decades he has participated in the shared collective of weddings, births, graduations, and deaths in the town he so dearly loved. His memory will live on with those who loved him, and he will be forever missed.
A celebration of his life will take place on Friday, September 29th, 2023, at the Blue Heritage Center in Eureka Springs, Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. All are welcome to come and bring their favorite Phil story. Arrangements under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral.com.
