Jeffery Phillips

Jeffery Daniel Phillips Oct. 8, 1969 - Jan. 2, 2005 Jeff Phillips, son of Dan and Diane Phillips, brother of Tara Phillips, died in his sleep at his Seattle home on January 2, 2005. He was 35. Jeff was born on October 8, 1969 in Seattle. His family moved to Port Orchard in 1971, where he grew up on Puget Sound on Yukon Harbor. Rowing to Blake Island each year on the last day of school with neighborhood friends is a fond memory. Teasing his sister from the bottom of his heart was also a favorite pastime. He graduated from South Kitsap in 1988 and attended Western WA University. After Bellingham, he moved to Portland, OR to enter banking with U.S. Bank. After 3 years, Jeff moved back to Seattle at his Great Aunt Berta's invitation, He worked with Evergreen State Bank. Next, he entered the insurance business as a Customer Service Agent with Pemco. Jeff chose to become a part of the sales team there and has enjoyed a very successful career. His pride in his fellow Pemco employees and helping each client with their needs was a daily motivation for Jeff. His friends at work say that for Jeff everyday was "70 degrees and sunny". Jeff was an avid member of the Mars Hill Church in Ballard. He was a Christian in heart, spirit and his actions with others. He had a strong relationship with Christ and trusted that the Lord would provide for all his earthly wants. Each Thursday, Jeff enjoyed hosting his Bible study group at his home. These eight men developed a very strong sense of brotherhood, fueling their love and dedication to their faith and to each other. Jeff loved to travel with his family and friends and experience the world. He celebrated his 30th birthday as he drove "left handed" with his dad through England and Scotland. Keeping again "on the wrong side of the road" as he traveled through Ireland in 2002. He and his friend Chad explored Greece in the Fall of 2003. The Lord must've had a plan for Jeff after 2004, since our family gathered numerous times this past year. Jeff, Dan and Diane flew to Aspen, CO to spend a gorgeous, snow-filled week with Tara. Jeff and Tara had a phenomenal day skiing on the slopes taking in all the beauty of Colorado. Next, Tara flew home to Seattle to spend the 4th of July holiday with our family. Jeff spent Labor Day with us and Diane's family all gathering at Grand Coulee Dam and boating on Lake Roosevelt. The good times kept rolling, as Jeff and Tara flew to Maui to meet their Mom and Dad for Dan's 60th Birthday. We all then traveled to Kauai where we spent many vacations during Jeff's childhood. Jeff felt very close to the Hawaiian spirit, listening to Hawaiian music, growing Hawaiian plants in his home and often sending leis and beautiful Hawaiian flower arrangements as tokens of his love. That "aloha" spirit has remained within each of us over the past 30 years. We all joined together again as a loving family in San Francisco just a week before Jeff's passing to celebrate Christmas. As usual, we all had a wonderful time sharing in each other's company. During the holiday, Jeff's discussions with us of his love for Christ and faith in Heaven comfort our grief in this difficult time. Jeff is survived by his mother and father, Diane and Dan Phillips of Port Orchard, and his sister, Tara Phillips previously of Aspen, CO, now of Seattle. His extended family includes Grandmother Ethel Phillips and Uncle Richard Phillips, Spokane, WA; Great Aunt Roberta Chase, Port Orchard, WA; Great Aunt Eva Doboff, P.O., WA; Uncle Vern Deahl, Wilbur, WA; Uncle Denny Deahl, Deer Lake, WA; Uncle Jim Deahl, Spokane, WA; Aunt Kris Packard, Spokane, WA. His immediate cousins, Ronee Buckert, Ephrata, WA, Lindsey Packard, Portland, OR, Angie Deahl, San Diego, CA, Kelsey Deahl, Spokane, WA, Jessica Myrick, U.S. Navy Middle East. Jeff is LOVED by so many people and he absolutely loved his life. Jeff's relationships with his friends and family were his MAIN priority in life. Beyond and within these precious bonds, he had many interests that he pursued. Jeff was quite talented with a camera, loved to cook divine foods, he enjoyed playing racquetball, biking, hiking, traveling and reading. He has such a pure spirit with a gift of unconditional love. He was filled with this love, commitment, faith and deep compassion. Jeff had a true zest for life and lived each day with gratitude. Jeff was always a great listener and we trust he hears us still, as we send him our heartfelt prayers. We are truly saddened by his sudden and much too soon passing. We find grace and peace in that he was taken by his Lord to be in the glory of Heaven. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 12th at 2 p.m. at Mars Hill Church, 1401 Leary Way, Seattle. A Life Tribute will be held Saturday, January 15th at 1:30 p.m. at Rill Chapel, Port Orchard, WA. Remembrances can be made to the Jeff Phillips Memorial Foundation, c/o any Bank of America branch. Jeff had philanthropic dreams that we will be following through to aid in diabetes research.