In Loving Memory of Phillip (Felipe) Richard Guy

Phillip Richard Guy, age 75, passed away peacefully at home on February 3, 2020 in Black Forest, Colorado surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 20, 1944 to Carl Raymond Guy and Hallie Victoria Hiatt in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Phil grew up on a cattle farm in Eastonville Colorado. Spending many moments working the farm milking cows and tending to the farm. Phil graduated from Falcon High School, then he went to study at Fort Lewis College in Durango and later CSU Fort Collins. While in University, he spent his weekends and summers out in the mountains rock climbing, hiking, hunting, fishing and camping. Upon graduating, Phil went to Puerto Rico to study Spanish at the Catholic University, a requirement for him to go to Panama to serve with the Peace Corps. While in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Phil met Carmen his wife of what will turn into a 49 year marriage.  They were married in Ponce, Puerto Rico and would soon return to Colorado where he worked as a Meat Inspector in Alamosa.
Phil, Carmen and his new born daughter Carmen, born in Alamosa, lived in many cities in Colorado and later moved back to Juana Diaz Puerto Rico.  There, Heidi was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. And again, during this time, Phil hiked, wandered into new places, ate new foods, and learned language and culture inviting people into his heart and soul to take in their ways of culture, customs and living. A final move back to Colorado, Ricardo was born in Colorado Springs and the five settled in their home in the Black Forest. A house built by Phil’s own two hands.

Phil continued to try new things, becoming a realtor to reconstruct houses to rent or sell and eventually ending up going back to his farming roots by owning Bingo’s D&S Saddle Shop, from which he eventually retired.
During his time in the Black Forest, many weekends and summers were spent taking his children to the mountains, deserts and US travels where he taught his kids how to rappel down rocks with only a chain and tree to hold them from falling, how to camp under the stars and as kids hoping a snake did not curl up in your sleeping bag. How to take shelter in thunderstorms as dad scouted out where to go next or better overhangs to get his kids out of the elements. To listen quietly to nature and the echoes of his yodels. And surprisingly, we never got lost as we took hikes on trails Phil created in the moment. His children learned to appreciate the outdoors, accept life and its challenges, be present and appreciate nature, to love greatly and be open and accepting to others. An avid lover of the outdoors, one of Phil’s most loved and memorable trips was at the age of 66, backpacking the Inca Trail in Machu Picchu with his wife and brother. Also staying in the yurts of Mongolia and a host family of the Quechua  peoples at lake Titicaca to learn their culture, history and customs.
No tribute would be complete to not mention the time Felipe went into the forest for a hike where he broke his ankle. Staying alone in the woods at night awaiting rescue, he scared off a visiting bear and kept watch through the night till a Black Hawk helicopter and rescue workers found him and sent him off to a hospital. Or one of other times he spent in the mountains assisting injured friends while they awaited rescue.
Through his way of living and compassion, he was proud to know his three kids now each work in a field where they can give to others who are in need.
In his retired years, he spent them researching new places to travel to continue his joys of learning from others and experiencing new cultures and ways of living. His travels took him to China, Mongolia, Peru, back to Puerto Rico, and his anniversary trip to Alaska. Phil was very proud to have the opportunity to rock climb, travel, hike, camp and fish. He was very proud to share this and teach his grand-kids Derek, Cecilia, Carter, Logan and Lincoln in outdoor ways of life, appreciation of nature and family time, and trips to New Mexico and Alaska to show them different cultures and traditions.
Phil (Felipe) was loved by all those who met him.  He had a great personality and a free and adventurous spirit for loving nature, accepting all human and living beings and their beliefs and cultures, all without judgement.

Felipe, your wonderful love and adventurous life have, and will guide our daily living.  We love you forever and you will be always in our hearts.

Phil is preceded in death by his Parents Hallie (Hiatt) Guy and Carl Guy;
nieces, Beverly (Guy) Weaver and Kimberly (Guy) O’Connor. He is survived by his wife, Carmen Vazquez Guy; daughters, Carmen Gonser and Heidi Guy Hays; son, Ricardo Vazquez Guy; son in laws Steve, Bill and Stéphane;
Grandchildren, Derek, Cecilia, Carter, Logan and Lincoln;
brother, Robert Guy and family Bonnie, Lee, Jeff, and David; nieces, Lauren, Ashley and Rachel: Rodger, Patrick, and Claudia;
many nieces and nephews, sister and brother in laws throughout Puerto Rico and United States.
And a heck of a lot of family, friends, neighbors and friends met along the way who loved him.

There is no need for flowers or food at this time. To give, Felipe would love for you to donate to causes he cared about. Please consider the El Paso County Search and Rescue https://www.epcsar.org/donate or Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity https://pikespeakhabitat.org/donation/

For those that wish to say goodbye to Phil, there will be a Visitation this Saturday, February 8 from 12 – 4 pm. This will be at Return to Nature Funeral Home located at   815 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903.  Parking is limited to street parking only. This is an informal visitation for us to say our goodbyes to Phillip. Come casually dressed and no need to bring food or flowers. A celebration of Phil’s life will happen in late spring or early summer with the date to be determined later.