Philip Lilly

Everyone who has ever known Philip was amazed by his selfless nature and his willingness to always lend a hand. Even during his darkest moments, Philip would always put the ones he loved and cared for first. He was never the loud or flamboyant one in the room, but he always found himself surrounded by people and charming them with his open-hearted nature.

Something not a lot of people knows about Philip, is that he had once dreamt of becoming a professional bowler. As a child, his grandfather got him into bowling, and he later went on to join his school’s bowling team. But then at the age of 16, he went on his first trip out of the country to London, and that’s when the travel bug bit him. Soon after entering college, Philip traveled to Thailand and Japan, cementing his love of backpacking and visiting new places. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a major in English and a major in business, but he taught himself on the side the ins and outs of how to use points to travel on a budget. In 2013, he met his partner, and the two of them traveled to 16 countries in their seven and a half years together. In 2018, they had a beautiful wedding at their favorite winery, but two weeks before the wedding, Philip was diagnosed with lymphoma. The week following their wedding, Philip started a six-month chemotherapy regimen. Even when he was in the hospital for the week-long treatments, or when he was able to use a portable chemo pump that had to be changed daily for four days straight, Philip kept working 40 hours a week. After six months of treatment, Philip was in remission and celebrated by going to Prague with his partner and good friends, and later a quick trip to China with his partner. When his cancer came back early in 2020, during a pandemic, Philip faced the challenge with his head held high and with unmeasurable strength. 2020 was a year of countless hospital visits, dozens of treatments, a roller coaster of emotions, and unconditional love. When the time came for him to leave this life, he left in the most beautifully peaceful way; at home with his partner holding his hands, telling him how much he is loved and will continue to be loved no matter what. Always.

Throughout his life, Philip charmed and amazed people left and right by simply loving life and being kind to everyone he met.

Philip Lilly will always be remembered for his strength, his kindness, his compassion, and his loving outlook on life.