by Amy Simmons

I first met Phil clay in 1985 when he was working for a drive-through beer store across the street from the original Amy's Ice Creams on Guadalupe.  We were always looking for hard working service-oriented folks, so we recruited him to be our first "non-founder" ice cream maker.  Seventeen years later Phil became my partner in Amy's.  Operating Amy's in the manner we chose to operate it was a lot like parenting our flock.  Phil was Papa Amy's, a beacon of plentiful solid advice and encouragement.

February 22, 2003, a Saturday, was the first beautiful, warm sunny day of the year.  Phil went with a group of friends on a motorcycle day trip to Marble Falls.  Stopping at the Bluebonnet Cafe to have lunch, Phil insisted they top their meal off with a slice of their famous pie.  On the return trip, Phil struggled on a curve and lost his life.

As tragic as this loss was, four years later we chose to look at the positive.  Phil was and always will be the best.  His memorial service was five hours filled with testimonials on the impact Phil had on people's lives.