Phyllis Jean Avey

Phyllis Jean Avey, born November 9, 1931, in Spring Canyon, Utah to Elias and Thelma (Henningson) Degn, passed on to her heavenly home in Moses Lake, Wash., on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012. A 1950 graduate of Grand Coulee High School, Phyllis married Clifford Wayne Avey on November 22, 1959, in the little LDS Church which stood at the intersection of Civic Way and Yucca in Coulee Dam. Together Phyllis and Cliff built their home in Coulee Dam on Walnut Street, with Phyllis moving wheelbarrow loads of concrete used in its construction. In 1967, the government moved their family and their house to its present location on Camas Street to make room for the third powerhouse. Phyllis was an active member of her church’s relief society in her younger years, and had a strong belief in God. She was also a member of the Ladies Coast Guard Auxiliary, Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and served as secretary for the P.T.A. Her greatest loves were spending time with her family, whether serving up huge dinners of pot roast, spaghetti, fruit cocktail salad or her world famous “glorified rice”, camping and boating together at Swan Lake and Lake Chelan., Phyllis’ family truly was her “Pride and Joy!” A song always seemed to be on her lips and a book close at hand when Phyllis was not busy organizing family photos into her albums.

Preceded in death by her parents; beloved parent’s-in-law Clifford A. & Violet Avey; brother Raymond Degn; son: Stephen Orien; son-in-law Terry L. Moore; and grandson H.C. “Rich” Avey; Phyllis’ legacy lives on through her loving husband of 53 years Clifford W. Avey; children: Cynthia A. Orien-Moore, Richard W. Avey (Dena), Barbara E. Ries; John R. Avey (Jan); Dorothy Orien-Ensley: grandchildren: David W. West (Chanda), Belen Adams (Ben), Justin Avey, Darin P. West (Jenny), Elizabeth White (Ben), Melanie Dawson (Ed), Jared Avey (Rebecca), Trish Terry (Fred), Shane Orien (Callie) and Randy Ries; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; half-sister Carol Torrey and numerous nephews and nieces.

A graveside service and dedication for Phyllis was held at 2 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, in Spring Canyon Cemetery in Grand Coulee..

Phyllis’ family requests that any donations be made in her name to: Disabled American Veterans, 212 S David Rd , Spokane Valley, WA 99212 or at http://www.dav.org.

Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, is honored to be serving Phyllis’ family.