Phillip Brian Messett

Phillip (Phil) Brian Messett was born June 7, 1949, in Illinois to Thomas and Mildred Messett. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Lakewood, California. Phil grew up with one brother, Thomas, and three sisters Kathleen, Patricia and Erin. He attended Saint Cyprian Elementary School in Long Beach and served as an alter boy for the Catholic Church for many years. Phil graduated from Lakewood High School in 1967 where he loved playing baseball, skipping class to go surfing and met his future wife, Christine Goyette. After high school, Phil was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. He loved to share many stories of the friends he made while in the military and the amazing rock concerts they were able to attend during their time off. After the Army, Phil came back to Lakewood where he married Christine and started a family. Phil explored multiple career paths during his life which included working as a sales manager for Pepsi, driving trucks for Budweiser, promoting and selling the infamous Snurfer (pre-snowboard days), and working on various construction projects. He found his passion in construction inspection and founded his own business, Wild West Inspections in the 1990’s. He held multiple certifications but was most proud of his work as a California Division of the State Architect (DSA) Inspector where he helped build numerous hospitals and schools throughout southern California until he retired in 2019. Phil is survived by what he would say were his two greatest accomplishments, his two daughters Lindsay and Audra Messett. He was the best father who truly valued having a close relationship with his kids above anything else and never missed an opportunity to brag about his girls. Phil loved to camp, hike, fish and just be in the wilderness with the wind in his face. He would frequently travel for months across the west to his favorite rivers to fish and be one with nature. He loved music and regularly held impromptu jam sessions by playing his harmonica or Native American flutes and drums to his favorite bands The Eagles and Poco. Phil was an amazing man, son, brother, uncle, dad and friend. He had a dynamic spirit that was felt by everyone who was blessed to know him and never met a dog who wasn’t obsessed with him. Phil passed away peacefully in Los Alamitos February 3, 2026, listening to his favorite music with his daughters by his side. W.L.Y.B? More than air…