William Clyde "Bill" Phillips

William Clyde “Bill” Phillips, 82, lifetime resident of Hiseville died peacefully among family and friends at his daughter’s home in Horse Cave on August 29, 2026.

He was born December 3, 1943, the first son of Clyde Preston and Helen Craig Phillips of Hiseville. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Jim Phillips and Mike Phillips of Hiseville. Bill graduated from Hiseville High School in 1962 and received his Associates Degree in business administration from Lindsey Wilson College in the early 1980's. He was saved as a youngster and was a long time member of Coral Hill Baptist Church.

Bill was interested in and active in many political arenas in Barren County as a young fellow. Here he gained much information about and interest in political ideas and ideals through interaction with like-minded people throughout the Glasgow and Barren County area. He was always a firm believer in the robust country that is America and the value and truth of the U.S. Constitution that protects it.

Bill had a passionate love for his home community, Hiseville, and devoted a good portion of his life in working to improve it. Sidewalks, lighting, aid to fire protection were all ideas that he had and delivered through volunteer service to his community. Adhering to his belief in local government, he served tirelessly many years as Mayor of Hiseville. He loved to bring his young daughter to council meetings where she served, as he called her, as his “secretary” while she colored in her coloring books.

He was once told by a friend that he survived on “Hiseville air alone.” And that was true.

Bill’s Hiseville Post Office box number has been #49 for many decades. That number will soon be reassigned and new mail will be deposited there. But just for a moment let us think back to a young Bill taking mail from that box, and observe a second or two of silence for him and his dreams. A young man who back in 1962 had a vision and developed a devotion to how things should work in this world for the common good of all people. P.O. Box 49 will have new mail deposited there shortly. And Bill’s era, his dreams must be passed into the hands of a new generation. Such is life.

So, “Goodbye, Bill. Rest in peace, Mr. Mayor, dream in peace.”

Bill is survived by his beloved daughter Janise Dawn Gardner of Horse Cave and bonus daughter Candise Clemmons Curlee of Athens, Georgia. Bill was known as “Bobo” to his five grandchildren who were the light of his life and with whom he enjoyed many adventures and maybe even some escapades, if truth be know: Austin Reynolds (Makayla), Chase Ragland (Kaitlin), Alexis Reynolds (Adarian), Addison Gardner (Josh), Matthew Curlee (Sarah). Bill’s four great grandchildren are tiny but were already an audience for his high jinks and jokes: Ayla Boyd, Malia Reynolds, Anderson Gardner, and Viv Godsey.

Bill will be missed by a whole family of nieces and nephews and loved ones, many from the Hiseville community where he was born and raised. Each of them has a story, anecdote, or joke that comes to mind whenever his name is mentioned.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3, 2026 at the Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home with burial in the Hiseville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and continue Thursday morning at the funeral home. Alternate expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Barren County Democratic Party or to the Museum of the Barrens. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.