Phyllis Vanairsdale

Phyllis Lenore Vanairsdale was born to Harold Stearns and Celia Micho on August 20, 1928 in St. Maries, Idaho. She died on January 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 February 15, 1948 at Holy Family Cathedral in Spokane. Dad and Mom lived in Newport for twenty years, Alaska for twenty 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 Stearns (Janet) (Edmonds), children, Carol Vanairsdale (California), Teresa Vanairsdale (Doug) (Spokane), Mary Lou Vanairsdale (Jacob)(Alaska), Janet Vanairsdale (Herb) (Alaska), Helen Vanairsdale (Hayden Lake), and David Vanairsdale (Tracy) (Alaska). She has fifteen grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was pre-deceased 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 NIC, playing her old saxophone from high school. Then she joined Perfection-Nots and marched in her home-made 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 seventy, 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 will be Friday (January 19th) at 7:00 p.m. at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. 4th St., Coeur d’Alene. Her Funeral Mass will be Saturday (January 20th) at 11:00 a.m. at St. Pius Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur d’Alene with burial to follow at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.