Margaret Cynthia Phillips, 99

Margaret Cynthia (Yerian) Phillips died at her home in Onalaska, Wash., Tuesday, April 5, 2016. A longtime resident of Spokane and North Idaho, she was 99 years old.

Margaret is survived by her daughter, Susan Morris of Onalaska; her two granddaughters, Cassandra Perry of Nampa, Idaho, and Cara Vignale of Hayden, Idaho; her two great-granddaughters, Madison Williams of Post Falls, Idaho, and Sophia Vignale of Hayden; her brother, Robert Yerian of Hamilton, Mont.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” Phillips; her parents, Asa and Amanda (White) Yerian; her brothers, John, Burney, Ray, Harry, Charles, Asa; and sisters, Nona, Nellie, and Ethel.

Margaret was born Nov. 18, 1916, in Hamilton. She was one of 11 children born to Asa and Amanda Yerian, who traveled to Montana from Missouri in November 1909.

Margaret left Montana in 1934 after graduating from high school and moved to Spokane, Wash., where she went to beauty school. She often traveled around the U.S. with her brother, Ray, as he worked at Thoroughbred racehorse tracks — but she always returned home to Spokane.

During World War II, Margaret worked at Kaiser Aluminum as a crane operator. After the war ended, she worked there in the chemistry lab until 1956.

The Phillips lived in various locations in the Pacific Northwest during the 1960s until moving to Rathdrum, Idaho, in 1967. Margaret raised vegetables and flowers in her huge garden. After she and Dick retired, they became “snowbirds,” going south to Arizona every winter. They sold the Rathdrum home and later bought a small lot in Pinehurst to be home base during the summer — those flower beds were always filled with flowers. In 2001 Margaret’s Stargazer Lilly earned a “Best in Show” award at the Kootenai County Fair.

Margaret enjoyed traveling and she loved to dance. She enjoyed listening to Dick play his mandolin and taking walks in the Arizona desert.

In 2006, they moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. For the next 10 years, Margaret cultivated flowers as well as many lasting friendships. In November 2016, she moved to western Washington to be close to family.

She’ll always be remembered as having a smile on her face; always being an optimist, viewing a setback as merely a challenge — never a dead end.

No services will be held. Margaret will be laid to rest at Pinegrove Cemetery in Rathdrum. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Margaret’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.