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Phyllis Lenore Vanairsdale, 89

Phyllis Lenore Vanairsdale was born to Harold Stearns and Celia Micho on Aug. 20, 1928, in St. Maries, Idaho. She died on Jan. 8, 2018, in Post Falls, Idaho.

She met Ted Vanairsdale while living in Spokane and playing in a dance band at Diamond Lake. They were married in Spokane on Feb. 15, 1948, at Holy Family Cathedral in Spokane. Dad and Mom lived in Newport for 20 years, Alaska for 20 years, and they retired to Hayden Lake in 1988.

Mom was a homemaker for most of her adult life, although she worked in a bank in Anchorage, and as a secretary to the Episcopal Bishop of Fairbanks, where she enjoyed flights to some village churches on occasion.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Dave Miller; her brother, Mike (Janet) Stearns of Edmonds, Wash.; children, Carol Vanairsdale of California, Teresa (Doug) Vanairsdale of Spokane, Wash., Mary Lou (Jacob) Vanairsdale of Alaska, Janet (Herb) Vanairsdale of Alaska, Helen Vanairsdale of Hayden Lake, Idaho and David (Tracy) Vanairsdale of Alaska. She has 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was predeceased by husband Ted Vanairsdale and sons Doug Vanairsdale and Randy Vanairsdale.

Mom and Dad were very active in the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill while they lived in Fairbanks when our brother Doug was very ill. Mom continued to follow the innovations in treatment for mental illness over the years. When they moved to Idaho, all the family members enjoyed vacationing there and having full run of Mom and Dad’s house.

Mom joined the community band at North Idaho College, playing her old saxophone from high school. Then she joined Perfection-Nots and marched in her homemade outlandish costumes every year for the Fourth of July parade. At the same time, she joined the Coeur d’Alene Big Band in which she played for many years. During Dad’s cancer and decline, her musical affiliations kept her happy and fulfilled. She enjoyed going to Jazz Festivals, took up downhill skiing at age 70, loved Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater and music in the parks. She met Dave Miller at the Post Falls Senior Center, where they loved to go to the weekly dances, and they were married in 2014.

In the summer of 2015, Mom’s dementia required full time care so we moved her to Guardian Angel Homes in Post Falls. She was well cared for and loved there like family. Our family wants to warmly thank the staff and caregivers at Guardian Angel and especially Dakota for his loving attention to our Mom.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Idaho Chapter of NAMI in Mom’s honor would be greatly appreciated.

Phyllis’s Vigil Service is 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Her Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur d’Alene, with burial to follow at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.

Please sign Phyllis’s guest registry at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.