Phyllis Elinore Verhei, 86
Phyllis Elinore Verhei, 86, passed away in Kent, Wash., on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2008, in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel. Inurnment will follow at Westmond Cemetery.
Born Oct. 21, 1921, in Spokane, Wash., her parents were Cora and Wilbur Cummins. She had one elder brother, Wilbur.
Her mother died unexpectedly from food poisoning when she was 14. Phyllis's father who had been in the grocery industry until the Great Depression accepted a position of United States border patrolman. The family moved to several different duty stations including Sweetgrass, Mont., and Metaline Falls, Wash.
It was while attending high school and working at the local movie theatre that Phyllis met Donald Verhei. After her high school graduation, they decided to marry.
They were married at the groom's parents' home in Sagle in a small ceremony. One of the relatives proclaimed the marriage would not last six weeks and refused to attend. She was slightly wrong ' by 65 years, two weeks and two days!
Phyllis was devoted to her husband, Donald, and her three children, Donald 'Dick,' Sharon, and Larry.
Together, over a number of years, they built their home in Sagle. It was a home base for more than 50 years. Frequent trips to job sites, hunting trips, and ocean fishing took them from Sagle but they always returned to their nest.
Everyone was welcome to drop in and visit with out notice and 15 to 30 drop-ins on a weekend were not uncommon. Everyone was fed and a place for them to sleep was found if needed. One person came to visit in November and left the next April.
In September of 2006 Phyllis moved to Kent, W A and resided at Stafford Suites to be close to her son Larry. Her sense of humor and smile was greatly admired by both staff and fellow residents of the complex.
Phyllis provided in-home health care for her husband for five years before his death. She also was preceded in death by her beloved relatives, mother-in-law, Blanche; her daughter, Sharon Vivier; her son, Donald Richard; and son-in-law, Edward Vivier.
She leaves behind her son, Larry Verhei; and numerous friends and relatives, including Wayne La Vigne, Jay Hall Jr., daughter-in-law Pat Verhei Lorenz; grandchildren Robin Harken, Todd Verhei, Edward 'Chip' Vivier, Donald Vivier, and Debbie Koller and 12 great-grandchildren.
When asked for advice on what she attributes her good life. Her reply was 'Choose to be happy! I was always too busy to sit and feel sorry for myself.'
Memorials may be made to the cancer fund or multiple sclerosis.
Family and friends are invited to sign Phyllis's online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.