Evelyn Wasem Phillips

Phillips, Evelyn Wasem
1925-2014. Evelyn Wasem Phillips, a resident of the Valley for over 69 years, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Evie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt and friend to all who knew her. She was a vivacious, kind, loving and strong woman who placed family first and always saw the possibilities for each of us to be the best we could possibly be for each other and in the community which she so deeply loved. Evie was born on April 28, 1925 in Fort Dodge, Iowa as the youngest daughter of Otto Edward Wasem and Johanna Bertina Skien. She attended Scripps College in Claremont, CA, and graduated in 1947 from the University of Iowa with a B.A. degree in European History. She was a proud member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. After graduating from college, Evie moved to Phoenix to be with her sister, Rachel, and met the love of her life, James Boyd Phillips. They were married at Trinity Church in Phoenix on June 29th, 1950 and raised their three children in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Evie devoted herself tirelessly to numerous charitable organizations around the Valley. She was very active with The Board of Visitors serving as their Treasurer and as a charity ball committee leader for several years; she was a long-time member of the Columbine Garden Club serving as their President from 1972-73; she held numerous committee roles with the Junior League of Phoenix where she served as Treasurer (1958-59), Legislative Committee Chair (1960-61) and First Vice-President (1962-63); and was a member of the Nature Conservancy. She was an active member of the Valley Field Riding and Polo Club and the Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and White Mountain Country Clubs. Evie loved to garden, golf, play tennis and bridge and spend time with her family. She never missed a family softball or soccer game, an equestrian or archery event, a theater production, a band concert, a karate or golf match, a birthday or a graduation. She loved the outdoors and cherished her summers in the cool pines of the White Mountains. Evie was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, and her two sisters, Rachel LaPrade and Mary Louise Putnam, also of Scottsdale. She is survived by her three children, Debbie (Steve) Wylie, Tina (David) Roderique and Mark (Allison) Phillips and seven grandchildren, Phil, Pete (Chelsea), Emily, Kelsey, Katie, Meagan and Sarah. A celebration of Evie's life will be held at 11 am on Monday, March 31st in the Chapel at the Episcopal Parish of St. Barnabas located at 6715 North Mockingbird Lane in Scottsdale. A reception will immediately follow the service. Following the reception Evie will be interred alongside her husband, Jim, at Paradise Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Arrangements made by Messinger Mortuary of Scottsdale.