Phyllis Lee Stevenson

Phyllis Lee Stevenson, 78, longtime Coupeville resident, passed away Dec. 7, 2011, at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon.

Mrs. Stevenson was born in Estherville, Iowa, on April 24, 1933, to Charles and Irene (Rippel) Bogard. She was raised in Minneapolis, where she graduated from high school. It was during her high school years that she met her future husband, David Stevenson. With his help, in May of 1951, she committed her life to Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. Dave and Phyllis were eventually married on Oct. 23, 1954, in Minneapolis. In subsequent years, the couple lived and raised their family in Chicago; Alberta, Canada; and Iowa, eventually relocating to Washington state in 1990, where they lived briefly in Lynden. They came to Whidbey Island in 1991 where Dave was the pastor of Whidbey Evangelical Free Church.

Phyllis’s life was centered around being a wife, mother, homemaker and grandmother. Hospitality was her passion and gift. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining. Always active as a pastor’s wife, she involved herself in the preschool children’s ministries, and especially the puppet ministry.

Phyllis is survived by her husband David, at home in Coupeville; seven children, Chuck Stevenson (Eileen) of Wichita, Kan., Pete Stevenson (Judy) of Lynden, Jane Schreurs (Randy) of Hugo, Okla., Julie Krantz (Todd) of Oak Harbor, Phil Stevenson (Lisa) of Lynden, Amy Bennet of Denver, and Libby Lewis (John) of Anacortes; 23 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Swartz of Bakersfield, Calif., and Judi Rousch (Glen) of Denver; also, numerous other relatives.

A memorial service took place Dec. 11, at Whidbey Evangelical Free Church. Pastor Phil Stevenson officiated. Memorials may be made to the Pregnancy Care Center, 670 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277, or to Whidbey Evangelical Free Church, 874 Plantation Dr., Greenbank. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.