Phillip H. Derry, 76, formerly of Astoria, died at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 1, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M.Phillip H. Derry, 76, formerly of Astoria, died at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 1, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M.
He was born Feb. 13, 1944, on a farm in Schuyler County, Ill., a son of Clinton and Evelee Smith Derry. He married Connie Jo Hagen on June 19, 1964, in Davenport, Iowa. She preceded him in death on March 20, 2014.
He also was preceded in death by one daughter, Joanna (Derry) Clark on April 1, 2017; one sister, Anna Pauline (Derry) Moran; one brother, Albert L. Derry; his favorite aunt and uncle, Cozetta and Francis Richardson; and his parents.
Surviving are two children, Rebecca (and Hector) Villasenor of Albuquerque, N.M., and Phillip (and Aimee) Derry of Bay Minette, Ala.; one sister, Joyce (and Harold) Belville of Astoria; 15 grandchildren, Koko, Teah, Gabriel, Angelique, Dominique, Dezarae, Levi, Leah, Trinity, Judah, Josiah, Jeremiah, Gideon, Isaiah and Goshen; seven great-grandchildren, Vicente, Benicio, Connie, Joanna, Almeta, Melody and Charlie; and several nieces and nephews.
He was a 1962 graduate of Astoria High School. After graduation, he worked several jobs before moving to Davenport, Iowa. In November 1972 he met a man by the name of Don Mass who began talking to him about the Lord in the middle of the night at a Village Inn restaurant. The Lord began to deal with his heart at that moment. He and Connie went to Westside Assembly of God Church and got saved together on Nov. 19, 1972. He would say “I remember the exact moment I got saved because I was there.” He also would tell the story how he remembered walking by Becky’s bedroom and hearing her praying at the age of four thanking Jesus for taking beer away from her daddy. He and Connie helped with the children’s ministry at Westside with Pastor Tommy Barnett until the Lord called him into full time ministry in 1978. He moved to Texas and later to California where he continued Children’s Ministries, Youth, Jails and Skid Row Services, as a Sr. Pastor. The Lord led him to Virginia in 1987 where he was the first Assembly of God Chaplin to the Pentagon during Desert Storm.
He had several ministries in the tri-state area including Feeding the Homeless in Lafayette Park across from the White House. He later took the Assembly of God Church back in his hometown of Astoria, where he was able to be with his mom until she passed away. He moved to Albuquerque, N.M., and became Pastor of Azusa Christian Faith Assembly of God in 1997 and had ministered there until he resigned in 2019. One of the many highlights in his life was going to India and preaching to thousands of people. He was able to see many miracles take place. His greatest joy in life was to see lives changed. He never saw a person as a “lost cause”. Thousands of lives have been impacted by his love and his ministries. He will be deeply missed but we will see him again soon. Well done thou good and faithful servant.
French Funerals and Cremations in Albuquerque, N.M., was in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to www.frenchfunerals.com.
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