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Phyllis Lavelle Swift, the daughter of Alfred and Myrtle Swift, was born on April 21, 1925 at the Willamette Falls Hospital in Oregon City, Oregon. She led a full and wonderful life in Willamette, an idyllic town later incorporated into West Linn, for almost 85 years until her passing on January 22, 2010. She attended Willamette Grade School and West Linn High School. Just prior to graduating from West Linn High she met Joseph K. Peters who lived in Clackamas. They were married on June 23, 1942 in Seattle, Washington before Joe was shipped overseas for military duty. Phyllis' son, Larry J. Peters, was born on April 29, 1943 while his father was fighting with the 87th Mountain Infantry, 10th Division in Italy during the Second World War. During those trying times it was reassuring for Phyllis to have her parents living nearby.
A normal family life in a small town started after Joe was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946. The family never lived more than two blocks from the Willamette Grade School so Phyllis was heavily involved in many school and PTA activities, being loved as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts because she made tasty chocolate chip cookies and cocoa, and even chaperoned the members of an Accordion Club when they participated in the Portland Rose Parade.
There were always animals around. Early on Phyllis' father raised rabbits and the family always had a black Cocker Spaniel and cats, also black, even though Phyllis and her mother were superstitious and would never let a black cat cross their paths. Joe loved to farm so Phyllis became very adept at canning, pickling, and preserving a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Joe also loved to fish and hunt and Phyllis was a very active participant in all the adventures that came from that love. Every summer there was a two-week family fishing trip usually to Crooked River near Madras before the dam, the Twin Lakes near LaPine, or Diamond Lake in Southern Oregon. In the spring, it was salmon fishing on the Willamette River near the Falls and, in the fall, deer and elk hunting in the Tillamook Burn. Later on Phyllis and Joe would take their grandchildren Lori, Larry Jr. and Darrin on some of these same adventures.
Joe died from cancer in their West Linn home on May 31, 1983. Sadly Phyllis and Joe never realized their dream of moving to Bend, Oregon to spend their retirement years fishing and hunting. Phyllis then spent two plus years providing a home and care for her father until he quietly passed away at her West Linn home. After that Phyllis was always lucky to have a cadre of very close friends that loved to play Pinochle, Bunco, and Bingo and eat out. She took occasional trips with her family to places like Virginia, Denver, San Francisco, Hawaii, Mexico, and Australia and to Reno with her friends. She also spent considerable time visiting and being visited by her son and his family that lived in Cannon Beach.
Over time Phyllis suffered the loss of many dear friends which was very painful for her. Also, during the last couple years Phyllis faced a number of health issues with the courage and heart of a lioness. That included a long and agonizing rehabilitation from a rotator cuff operation and later stent surgery. But, at the time of her death, she was still a member of three Pinochle groups and waited with bated breath for each game. She often played card with her long-time friend and beloved neighbor Dona Bietschek. She was addicted to playing computer card games and exchanging daily e-mails with her son. And, blessedly, Phyllis had just spent two weeks around Thanksgiving and 10 days around Christmas with her family in Cannon Beach.
Phyllis was a very special person who will be sorely missed by family and friends. But as Elton John said of another Princess: ''Now you belong to heaven and the stars spell out your name.'' She is survived by her son Larry and his wife Nancy; grandchildren, Lori and her husband Tim DeGandi, Larry Jr. and Darrin Peters; great-grandchildren, Alicia Ulrey, Britney Ulrey, Tiffany Ulrey, Dylan Peters, McKensie Peters, and Bennett Peters; and great-great-grandchildren Madison Horrell, Ethan Horrell, and Benjamin Perschek.
Please join the family for a graveside service to be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday February 2 at the Canby Zion Cemetery, 2010 S. Township Road. She will be buried beside her husband Joseph and her parents Alfred and Myrtle Swift. There will also be three viewings at Homan-Hankins-Bowker & Waud, 715 7th St., Oregon City. The viewings will be on Friday January 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday January 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and from 9:00 a.m to noon on the day of the graveside service Tuesday February 2. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Willamette Volunteer Fire Department. These very dedicated and caring individuals save many lifes in Willamette and have always been there for Phyllis and her friends.
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