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Phillip Hernandez
12/21/1969 — 11/19/2021
From Kennewick , WA
Phillip Hernandez
A good man died in the early hours of Nov. 19 after a two- week struggle to live.
Philip Niles Hernandez fought every hour of every day but slipped into death just after midnight with his beloved wife, Aly, holding his hand.
Phil, of Kennewick, was 51.
He was born December 21,1969 in Wichita, KS, as the only child of Diane Kay Steffler. He was later adopted by his stepdad, Eusevio Wedo Hernandez, both of whom preceded Phil in death.
Phil moved with his mother to Moses Lake in the early 70s and later moved to the Tri-Cities. He graduated from Pasco High School in 1988 and for a short time lived in California before returning to Pasco.
Phil joined the Local 598 apprenticeship in 1994 and turned out in 1999.
He moved into his dream home in Kennewick after he and Alyson Moreno married in the spring of 2009.
Phil worked for ATI Richland Operations. Phil joined the operations at Richland in 2003 as a Maintenance Technician. He has been with the company for more than 18 years, spending the majority of his career in maintenance planning and facilities support.
He had hobbies galore and music was at the top of the list. He loved rock n’roll ‘80s, ’90s, and newer music, taught himself to play the electric guitar, played off-and-on in several bands, and practiced – sometimes loudly – in his upstairs bonus room. In recent years Phil discovered music theory and delved into understanding sound.
“Without theory, music is just guess work,” explained his childhood friend Randy Larsen, of Kennewick.
Another hobby was gardening – but not just a few plants. Last Spring he brought home pallets of wood from work and cleaned and polished them to become gardening boxes. Much of his backyard was one box after another.
He loved hot peppers and pickles and throughout summer and into early fall, Phil and Aly kept busy canning, freezing, drying and fermenting their wealth of vegetables and fruits.
Phil was a handyman, his son Caleb John (CJ) Moreno says proudly. “There was nothing he couldn’t fix and if he got stumped, he could figure it out.”
Another hobby was hooking up the RV and camping with longtime friends Robert and Regina Voss – often at the Little Naches “He loved it there,” Aly said. His dogs – Oakley and Cooper- were never far from his side.
Friends like Family Randy Larsen, Kennewick, Robert Voss, Kennewick and Morris (Mo) Quaintance, Richland, used words like loving, kind, sensitive, motivating, encouraging, and generous to describe Phil – who they say would have given you the shirt off his back.
He was also “very dedicated to whatever he set his mind to,” said Larsen.
He was very encouraging and motivational “He knew how introverted I was but also knew how to get me to try new things out of my comfort zone, consequently, getting me into playing the electric bass” said Voss.
They were among Phil’s closest friends.
Survivors include his wife, Aly, whom he adored; son CJ; in-laws John and Marcia Moreno of Pasco; brother-in-law, Ben (Maria) Moreno , living in Germany, and Ben’s son Justin Moreno of North Carolina.
Grandmother Ora Steffler of Moses Lake. Aunts; Sandra Green (Bill Clark) of Kennewick; Paulette (Fil) Rivera of Moses Lake; Julia (Johnnie) Batten of Kennewick; Jackie (John) Sielaff of Hermiston. Two uncles; Gary (Verla) Steffler, of Moses Lake; Philip J. (Tara) Steffler Jr. of Moses Lake
He also is survived by 14 cousins and their families.
He was proceeded in death by his mother, Diane Hernandez; father
Eusevio Wedo Hernandez, grandfather Philip J. “Jack” Steffler, uncle Paul Steffler, uncle Brian Steffler and uncle Alan Green.
Celebration of life for Phil will be held Sunday December 5, 2021 from 2pm-6pm at the home of Phil and Aly Hernandez, 8705 W Bruneau Ave in Kennewick, WA.
This will be a casual, open house celebration just as Phil would have liked.
Aly, we just now read posts and weren’t sure what we were reading. We further investigated and discovered this awful truth. We are sick for you!
Hugs from your forever friends
Knowing Philip’s genuine soul and personality it’s with heavy sorrow for family and friends, myself included. Phil was a listener and always had the right words to share. We have many good memories camping & wheeling, boating, Oregon beach trips, deep sea salmon fishing and crabbing. Traveling to Orlando to Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World Phil had No Fear on the scariest rides. Standing arms raised in champions circle at Daytona International Raceway. Phil’s love of music was huge. 1996 we were able to score tickets to a concert at Spokane Opera House row two in the orchestra pit stage left. Guitar Gods, Joe Satriani, Stevie Vai and Eric Johnson performed three hours in our face, We were blown away specially Phil, awesome. One of a kind man, will be missed…never forgotten ❤️ Darren & Janet Sharkey
Knowing Philip’s genuine soul and personality it’s with heavy sorrow for family and friends, myself included. Phil was a listener and always had the right words to share. We have many good memories camping & wheeling, boating, Oregon beach trips, deep sea salmon fishing and crabbing. Traveling to Orlando to Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World Phil had No Fear on the scariest rides. Standing arms raised in champions circle at Daytona International Raceway. Phil’s love of music was huge. 1996 we were able to score tickets to a concert at Spokane Opera House row two in the orchestra pit stage left. Guitar Gods, Joe Satriani, Stevie Vai and Eric Johnson performed three hours in our face, We were blown away specially Phil, awesome. One of a kind man, will be missed…never forgotten ❤️
Phil was my go to person for fashion in JR High school.. He was always sporting the latest Iron Maiden shirt (everyday) so….
I finally got a Iron Maiden shirt, seeing Phil in the hallway I yelled “hey Phil! Check it out “ he turned around and was wearing a AC/DC shirt!? I was like…..aaaahh Man!
We grow up together as kids and Phil was always a great Dude.
See you on the other side…man
Chad
Randy eggers
Phil,
I remember meeting you for the first time when we were 12 when I would come over to the Tri Cities and visit our mutual friend Andy. Good times hanging out downstairs at Andy’s playing pool,guitar and also roaming around on adventures. As we got older and and didn’t see each other often everytime I ran into you you were always the same nice guy you’ve always been. To Phil’s family I’m so sorry for your loss.
Kevin
Such a loss.😢 Phillip had a special way of kindness.
My deepest condolences for your loss. Too young and much too soon.
Debbie Harden
(Randy Larsen’s mom)
Guestbook for
Phillip Hernandez