PHYLLIS J. McLELLAN

FUNERAL HOME

Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home

14951 Bothell Way NE

Seattle, Washington

PHYLLIS McLELLAN Obituary

Phyllis J. McLELLAN Age 84, passed away in Seattle, WA on May 21, 2012. She was born on Feb. 21, 1928 to Philip and Madeline McLellan. She was a lifetime resident of the Seattle area, working as a Claim Manager at Safeco. Memorial Services will be held at 2PM on May 31, 2012 at Acacia Funeral Home, Seattle, WA. Please view the full obituary, driving directions, suggested memorial donation information, and share your memories at: www.acaciafuneralhome.com

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Published by The Seattle Times on May 27, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for PHYLLIS McLELLAN

10 Entries

Judy Sorrell

June 3, 2012

My favorite memories of Phyllis are of her wonderful laugh and her great love for her brother Willie and his wife Diane. She will be missed.

Ken Williams

June 3, 2012

I had the great pleasure of working with Phyllis on the Noble Firs board. Her good sense and fine wit will be sorely missed. I only regret that I knew her for such a short time.

Bill Barber

June 2, 2012

I'm Bill Barber, the 2012 President at Noble Firs. We have many wonderful people at Noble Firs, but Phyllis was one of my favorites. She served as Board President for 10 years. Although her health was declining, she was still an active, contributing Board member in 2011 and early 2012. She prepared our official sale and rental documents for owners, renters, and real estate agents. She provided a historical perspective and knowledge of our rules and policies, which was very important to the rest of us who were less experienced. Most important, no matter how contentious and controversial an issue was, Phyllis voiced a calm, thoughtful position which was sensible and realistic.

Phyllis also had a great sense of humor, and I can give two examples. (1) One day Phyllis asked Carol Lagoe over for coffee at Phyllis' unit. As they were sitting at the table, Phyllis asked Carol if she saw anything out on the patio. Carol looked carefully, and then said, "No." Phyllis said: "Don't you see him out there?" Carol looked carefully again, but she did not see anyone. She was puzzled, but she said, "No." Phyllis said: "Why, it's Paddy, Paddy O'Chairs. ...I got new patio chairs." (2) During the fall of 2011, the Board needed to get volunteers to close our double iron gates on NE 143rd street each night. We had 2 volunteers, but we needed 1 more. After we discussed the issue for several minutes, Phyllis said, "I'll do it." (Everyone laughed, because we knew that Phyllis could not walk a full block using her walker and then close the heavy iron gates on NE 143rd Street.)

All of us at Noble Firs will miss Phyllis. We will remember her fondly. The Noble Firs Board will continue to strive to do the best it can. But now it will be more difficult.

June 2, 2012

Aunt Phyllis Good-bye,

Phyllis Jean McLellan. The heritage in her family name was special to Phyllis and our very family-oriented Scottish Clan. A Clan that also included her little brother Bill DeFore, who was not Scottish. But, she forgave him at birth and he became her dearest of all.

Phyllis seemed to be the family ROCK, and as the only sister, she was often asked to help keep three high spirited brothers; Jack, Dick, and Bill, in line. Phyllis might say my father, Dick was the most spirited, and had a heart of gold. She also seemed to be the one they turned to for her wisdom, intelligence and a great capacity to love. A love she seldom failed to make clear to us and to so many others. From as far back as I can remember, I cherished every chance I had to spend time with her and the rest of the clan. My family members on my mother's side were fragmented and not so family- oriented. My visits with Auntie were therefore very important to me. I would carefully study, by her example, how best to interact with other family members, friends and the world in general. I so admired her. For me to solve life's little problems growing up, I often would say to myself, “What would Auntie Phyllis do?”

But, what I loved most about her was her dry sense of humor. She liked to tease us with a special look. Her eyes shot up, her lips twisted just so, and her head rolled. You know you'd screwed up, somehow. And she was saying with that look, “There you go, you did it again!” I loved that look, it made me smile inside. Oh, she could make a get-together so much fun! I could even talk her into performing a little Scottish jig, every so often, with the help of a little Scottish Whiskey, or a wee-bit of Champagne. She truly loved life!

I always admired how beautifully she and her mother, my grandmother, decorated their homes. I've tried to emulate their talent through-out my life with a similar eclectic style of decorating, peacefulness and an oriental theme. Phyllis was also proud of the degree of artistic talent in our family. Probably the most talented being her older brother, Jack, who thrilled her with beautiful paintings and drawings that were displayed throughout her home.

Auntie Phyllis, I've loved you so, and will miss you always, always, always. Good-bye dear Auntie.

~ Your brother Dickie's daughter, and your niece, Linda McLellan-Bigler.

Jim Sola

June 1, 2012

Pam and I would be there with you today if we didn't have an obligation we cannot change or avoid. I want to thank Diane for reading this for me.

This is intended as a statement of love and farewell for Phyllis McLellan, a dear friend. I met Phyllis in the 1950's when I was a child. As you know, this was when she was working at the General Insurance Company (later Safeco) in the University District with my mother, Annabelle Sola. They became life-long friends. It was my good fortune to ride the coat tails of that friendship. I loved Phyllis' sense of humor and total command of the succinct statement of humorous irony. She never ventured into hyperbole; she was decidedly honest and possessed an intellect that was as strong as any I have seen. She was kind, thoughtful and forthright. She was also playful land hardworking. She rose to work in management at a time when the glass ceiling was made of titanium. She was able to do so because her energy, common sense, strength of logic and attention to detail was undeniable. She was one smart cookie. She treated mom and me as family and, in fact joined others in adopting Annabelle as a full-fledged member of the McLellan clan, an honor Annabelle cherished. During Annabelle's last years, I was unable to visit as often as I needed as I lived 500 miles away and was running a VA hospital. The demands of that job were enormous. As always, Phyllis was a great friend to Annabelle in those days. I cannot adequately express my thanks to her. She visited Annabelle regularly then called me with a detailed report. After mom passed, we would chat on the phone, exchanging book titles and memories. Some of which included the times she baby-sat me with affectionate descriptions of the trouble I caused her. Mom and I always loved her and know it was reciprocated. Thanks, PJ. I will miss you.

Thank you Diane and Christine, for giving me the chance to join you in her last hours. That will remain with me as one of my life's most memorable events. Your kindnesses and love for Phyllis were as much as any person could hope for. Bless you as well as the rest of the clan and others who knew PJ.

May 31, 2012

Thank you Phyllis for being in my life...as a kind and generous friend. You'll be in my thoughts and memory forever.

Gloria Brandano

Pam Graves

May 30, 2012

Dear auntie Phyllis, I only wish we had spent more time together. You will be missed by many family and friends. God bless you sweet Auntie Phyllis.

Cindy Walters

May 27, 2012

Oh Auntie Phyllis where do I begin, first I want to thank you for letting me call you Auntie Phyllis for the last 50+ years. I loved the times we shared tuna sandwiches and potatoes chips, going out for Chinese food and happy hour at Anthony's, or just sitting and visiting with you in your little kitchen area. I will truly miss your wit and that special little look you would get on your face when you were up to something. God Bless you Auntie Phyllis with love.

Diane DeFore

May 26, 2012

Sissy, thank you for all you have done for me, sharing happy times, adventures, and our mutual losses. You were there for me so many times, I will carry your words of love and encouragement in my heart forever. I will miss your nightly phone calls and our parting words "Don't forget I love you!".

Jim Sola

May 26, 2012

PJ,

Thanks for your love and caring over the years. I will miss you, your honesty and mostly, your ironic wit. You have been a life-long friend. Thank you for all of that. I would go on but you would have hated that. Rest in Peace, PJ.

Love,
Jim Sola

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