Father Phillip "Phil" Benson Lindley

Father Phillip “Phil” Benson Lindley, 73, of Amarillo, passed away on the morning of June 12, 2026.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the evening at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 4100 S. Coulter, with Cardinal Daniel DiNardo presiding. The family will have a private inurment ceremony at a later time. 

Father Phil was born in Amarillo, Texas on October 20, 1952, to Benson John and Margaret Lucille (Long) Lindley. He graduated from Guymon High School in Guymon, Oklahoma in 1970. Father Phil would later receive his bachelor’s degree in business from Oklahoma State University and then a master’s degree in theology from Pontifical College of Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. On October 20, 1983, his 31st birthday, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Amarillo, Father Phil received his ordination into the priesthood by then Bishop Leroy T. Matthieson. Phillip celebrated his first Mass after ordination at his original home parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Guymon, OK on October 23, 1983.He served as the Parochial Vicor for almost two years at St. Thomas under Monsignor Joseph Tash before moving to St. Jose’s Church in Hereford, Texas to take on the same roll under Monsignor Joe Bixenman. He later served as Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Conception Church in Vega, Texas, Administrator at Our Mother of Mercy Church in Wellington, Texas; Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Shamrock; and St. Mary’s Church in Wheeler, Texas, and Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Amarillo, Texas where he served as Pastor until 1998, with many additional tenures of service along the way.

Following his departure from Blessed Sacrament Church, Father Lindley filled in for priests in need of time off or vacations.

In his free time, Father Phil enjoyed gardening and cooking. He and several of the priests of the Amarillo Diocese would create menus and meet almost monthly to enjoy fellowship and dinner together. Father Phil was blessed with the gift of music and a voice that was truly remarkable. He played the organ and piano, and when celebrating Mass during special events, he would chant the Eucharistic Prayers and Gospel when he didn’t have a Deacon available.

Father Phil is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Martha McClenny. Those left to cherish his memories are his sister, Mary Erker and husband Stacey of Salina, KS, brothers, Michael Lindley and wife Linda of Amarillo, TX, Kevin Lindley and wife Saundra of Mission Viejo, CA, Lawrence Lindley and wife Sherry of Guymon, OK, and Thomas Lindley of Optima, OK. He also leaves his numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and all of his friends and family of the Amarillo Diocese and Catholic Church.