Philip Jay Bush

1947 - 2025

Philip Jay Bush

October 4, 1947 - August 7, 2025

Boise, Idaho - Born in La Grange Park and raised in Downers Grove, IL, Phil was the second-to-youngest son of George Dales and Val Jean Bush's five boys: Al, Bob, Steve, Phil, and Doug.

In Moscow, ID, he obtained his BS degree in Forest Business Management at the Univ. of Idaho in 1971.

There he met Gayle Yvonne Chapin of Nampa, ID. Phil and Gayle married on Jun. 12, 1971. He pursued employment with the USPS in Caldwell and later was appointed postmaster of Marsing, ID. He finished his USPS career in the Boise Postal Processing Center. Phil and Gayle's first daughter, Cory Yvonne Bush, was born on May 9, 1975, and their second daughter, Melany Jean Bush, was born on Nov. 5, 1976.

Phil was a devoted and kind father who spent hours helping his daughters with their schoolwork and teaching life skills. He embodied and passionately followed the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. It was common for Phil and Gayle to bring anyone they met to their home to provide for people less fortunate and to preach the gospel.

In 1985 Phil achieved his Master of Divinity from Christian International Seminary. In 1989 he earned his Master of Education from the College of Idaho.

In 1990 Phil created a nonprofit, The Turning Point, Inc. In 1991 Phil and Gayle opened the First Homeless Shelter in SW Idaho, a 24-hour emergency shelter, providing case management, housing and food, and one-on-one support to the underprivileged in Caldwell, Idaho. Phil's organization was the lifeblood for local homeless and domestic violence survivor populations. During its first years, the shelter served over 3000 homeless individuals. Phil's commitment to serve those less fortunate never faded. After he and Gayle had gone their separate ways, Phil moved to Boise.

In June 1996 Phil and Mary Helen Warren married; and to his delight, they had a daughter, Sierra Ashley Bush, who was born on Apr. 11, 1998. For outdoor adventures Mary Helen and Phil would trade off hiking with Sierra in their backpacks. When Sierra was older, of course, Phil had to chase her down the trails! Phil, with his knowledge of forestry, studied many trails and took 100s of breathtaking pictures across the Sawtooths and beyond. Phil and Mary Helen divorced in January 2005.

In 2002 Phil retired from the USPS. In 2004 he co-founded Access Behavioral Health Services, an outpatient mental health facility, and worked there until 2008.

In 2004, due to his big heart and bedrock dedication to helping people, Phil purchased a few houses that he turned into sanctuaries for people who struggled with mental illness and lived on meager government assistance. The majority of the people Phil served had been in and out of homelessness.

In 2006 Phil started volunteering at The Vineyard Church in Boise where he worked at The Pantry serving food until his Parkinson's progressed to the point where he could no longer lift heavy items or withstand Idaho's weather.

Phil's daughter Cory, who had been a part of his everyday life for many years, was by his side throughout the last two years of his heart-wrenching struggle with Parkinson's.

Phil was preceded in death by his mother Val Jean and father George, his brothers Steve and Doug, and his beloved daughter Sierra.

Celebration of life will be at Vineyard Boise, 4950 N. Bradley St., Garden City, ID, Fri. 8/15/25 at 7 p.m.