Phillip Eugene Leggitt passed away on Feb. 15, 2022, at Memorial Central Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo. He was born on Aug. 27, 1941, in Crestone, Colo., the middle child of 16 children born to Parley and Genevieve Leggitt. Phil moved to Creede in 1950 with his family and attended Creede schools and graduated from Creede High School in 1961.

Phil started working when he was a teenager at the Cottonwood Cove and later at the 4UR Ranch. He moved on to working as an underground miner for the Emperius Mining Company and the Homestake Mining Company until 1982 when he was elected Mineral County Sheriff after serving as Undersheriff.

Phil proudly served the residents and visitors of Mineral County until his retirement from the job (career) that he loved in 2007. He continued as a Reserve Deputy for Rio Grande County Sheriff's Department.

Phil was involved with his community on many levels. He was a Mason, an Elk, a JayCee, a retired Fireman, and a retired EMT. Phil served on several boards including, Creede City Council, Mineral County Health Council, Mineral County Ambulance Board (47-plus years), Creede Underground Mining Museum/Community Center Board, Masonic Park Board and the Virginia Christianson Fund Committee.

As a JayCee, he was involved with the start of the Creede Repertory Theatre and was proud to see the theatre grow over the years and provide entertainment to so many visitors and residents.

In 1990, Phil served as President of the County Sheriffs of Colorado and was host to the Vice President of the United States.

Phil loved his mountains, family and talking to folks. You could see him walking around town and stopping to talk to anyone if the opportunity presented itself. He didn't know a stranger. He would stop and ask everyone their name, if he couldn't recall your name, a nickname would be given. That's when you knew you were special.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and one sister.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years Diana, sons Philip, Scott (Shawna), Larry (Jodi) and daughter Nancy, (Lauri Jordan), 5 granddaughters, 4 brothers, 5 sisters and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service is planned for May 21, 2022, at the Creede Community Church.

Arrangements in care of Strohmayer’s Funeral Home.