Phillip Carl Staley's Obituary
Phillip Carl Staley of Denver, NC passed away March 31, 2023, at the age of 78.
Phil was born September 6,1944 in Goshen, Indiana to Carl C. Staley and Rose L. Beck. He was raised in Wawaka, IN by his grandmother Eva Hubler. Although he left Indiana after graduating from Tri State College in Angola, IN, Indiana would remain a beloved place that he visited often including an annual visit to the Wawaka High School reunion.
Phil moved to Huntsville, AL in 1966 to take an engineering job during the “space race” at Boeing. There he met a small-town Alabama girl at work and in February of 1968 he and Mary Jo White were married in Heflin, AL. Phil and Mary Jo spent the next 30 years working together as computer programmers at various companies including Sperry Univac, Unisys and Computer Science Corporation. They lived in Maryland, Pennsylvania (twice), Nova Scotia, Alabama and Tennessee before retiring right back where it started in Huntsville, AL. In 2016 they moved to Denver, NC to be close to their family.
He was an avid lover of all things Apple before it was cool to have an Apple computer. He had the first Mac that was as big as a tiny fridge and every version since then. After retiring he and Mary Jo took up RV’ing for a few years allowing them to complete their visits to all 50 US states. He loved family pictures and relished any opportunity to bring the joy of an old snapshot to family and friends alike. As a young man he loved sports cars. Until his dying day he regretted selling the 1973 Porsche 911. Visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina was an annual staple with cherished work friends from years past.
Survived by his wife of 55 years Mary Jo White Staley only daughter Jennifer Matson (Mike) and two grandchildren who were the apple of his eye, Jack and Kate Matson.
Although Phil was an only child he is also survived by a large extended family of cousins from Indiana, brother-in-law Richard White (Betty), Huntsville, AL and too many Beggs in Alabama to name. You know who you are and how much Phil loved you all.
He is preceded in death by both his parents and brother-in-law Danny White.
A Celebration of Life Event will be scheduled by the family in the coming weeks.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society. This was a favorite charity of Phil’s.
James Funeral Home is assisting the family, online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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