Died October 6, 2007 in West Seattle, at age 83.
She was born on November 7, 1923, the daughter of Thomas and Clara (Coy) Reeder. Her parents were some of the earliest residents of Gatewood Hill in West Seattle. Her father built one of the nicest homes on Southwest Southern Street in 1912. Her parents were known for their civic pride and her father built an award-winning playground that she and her sister enjoyed with all the neighbor children.
She attended Gatewood Baptist church as a child, and was a member of West Side Presbyterian Church for nearly 50 years.
Her given name was Mary, but she went by her middle name, Phyllis, all her life. The same was true for her sister Barbara "Jean". They used to say that their given names were their "Hospital Names," because they were only called those when they were in the hospital.
Phyllis graduated from West Seattle High School in 1942, and married Lawrence R. Fletcher in 1944 at Gatewood Baptist Church. They made their home in West Seattle, where they raised five children. She was a housewife who loved to be at home with her children.
Family was so important to Phyllis. She adored her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time with them at the family's little summer cabin up at Lake Howard.
A couple of years after Lawrence passed away in 1989 she married her old High school sweetheart, James J. Hawkins. During the summer they lived in Des Moines, Washington, in the fall they spent a month on Maui, and they lived on a golf course in Palm Desert, California during the winter. They also took many cruises and trips overseas until she suffered a massive stroke in 2002. After Jim's death in 2004, she moved to Normandy Park Assisted Living where she lived in her apartment until just last month.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lawrence R. Fletcher, husband James J. Hawkins, sister Barbara Jean Rabak, and grandchildren Mariah and Dallas West. She is survived by her loving children Carol (Jim) Farnsworth (children Jeremy and Katie), Janice (David) West (children Morgan and Cody), Brad (Deborah) Fletcher (children Kara and Ashley), Paul (Deborah KC) Fletcher (children Emily, Colby and Clara), and Kelly Fletcher. She is also survived by six great grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, David Rabak and C. Don (Edna) Fletcher, eight nephews and nieces, five step-children and their families, and many life-long friends.
There will be a memorial service for Phyllis was held on Friday October 12th, at West Side Presbyterian Church, 3601 California Ave SW, in West Seattle.
Mom, we will always be grateful for all that you and Dad have done for us. We are happy knowing you are back with your loved ones. We, as your children, will strive to carry on the great legacy you have left us. We love you - Carol, Jan, Brad, Paul and Kelly.
Please visit the website at howden-kennedy.com to sign the guest book.
