Margaret Lorraine Phillips' Obituary
Margaret Lorraine Stone was born on October 16, 1923, in Wenatchee, Washington, to Guy Calvin Stone and Genevieve Lennie (Parker) Stone. She died on May 22, 2018, in Bellingham at her son and daughter-in-law’s home, with the support of Whatcom Hospice. She was preceded in death by her husband Orville on July 4, 2016, and daughter Tamera (Tami) Lee Atchison on February 4, 2010. She is survived by her son Daniel and his wife Nancy.
Margaret and Orville were married on May 21, 1943. They celebrated 73 years before Orville passed. Together they had six children, with five of them waiting at the gates of Heaven. Margaret and Orville were blessed with many grandchildren, ranging from 49 to newborn!
Six Children:
Daniel LeRoy Phillips
Tamera Lee (Phillips) Atchison (spouse Jerry), 1946-2010
Rita Joyce, 1944 (died at birth)
Twin babies, 1945 (died at birth)
Ronny, 1959 (died at birth)
Four Grandchildren:
Kimberly (Atchison) Green (spouse Larry)
Patrick Atchison (spouse Marcy)
Charity (Phillips) Breidenbach (spouse Jason)
Chanel Phillips
Ten Great Grandchildren:
(Green family) - Ashleigh (Green) Jackson, Mikayla (Green) Beddoes, Lauren (Green) Nichols, Gabby and Michael
(Breidenbach family) - Roman, Dylan, Benjamin Breidenbach
(Phillips/Parks family) - Heileana and Micah Parks
Five Great Great Grandchildren:
Charlie Jackson
Rylie Jackson
Aiden Lignell
Baby Boy Nichols (due in September)
Baby Girl Beddoes (due in September)
Margaret is also survived by many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. She loved her family dearly, and was loved in return.
In Margaret’s early life she was a care free girl living in Sunnyslope near Wenatchee on an apple ranch, where her dad was the foreman. Margaret was a true frontierswoman, riding bareback and winning awards for her marksmanship with the long rifle. An exceptional swimmer, she would regularly swim the Wenatchee River across and back during the hot months. She was gifted in the arts and enjoyed creating charcoal portraits.
Orville and Margaret met at a picnic when they were in their early teens, and again in their late teens. Orville had bought a box of Whitman Sampler chocolates and figured if she turned him down for a ride home from church he wasn’t out anything, because he loved chocolate! That ride home turned into a lifelong friendship and 73 years of marriage. Margaret had been attending Northwest Bible College in Seattle; following Orville’s marriage marriage proposal and subsequent wedding, she left school and together they began the Lord’s call to serve in the ministry.
Their first church was at University Place Assembly of God in 1949 under Rev. Tigner. Orville continued to work on-call as a mortician for CC Mellinger Funeral Home in Tacoma in his early church ministry. He received his credentials in 1952, and he began his work of pastoring and evangelism, with Margaret always by his side organizing countless Christmas and Easter programs, teaching Sunday School, singing specials and playing the organ. They next pastored at Tekoa and Kettle Falls in the early ‘50s. In 1955, while pastoring in St. John, Orville received his ordination.
At times they lived a vagabond lifestyle as they traveled around the US in the evangelistic field, with Margaret supporting Orville throughout their ministry. They also pastored churches in Winlock, Newburg (Ore), Omak, Walla Walla, Blaine, Kalama, Randle, Granite Falls, and Lakebay. She was by his side as Orville served as Presbyter for a number of years in the Eastern Washington region while pastoring in Omak. In 1997 Orville (and Margaret) retired from full-time ministry.
Margaret was an avid storyteller, which served her well in their many years of ministry. When presenting puppet shows for kids’ crusades it wasn’t uncommon for the stories to become entangled, and it was always a delight to hear the latest rendition. The same was true of singing church specials with Margaret – she would get lost in the song and end up making up her own words, which required a quick turnaround for her duet partner!
There was also rarely a short phone conversation - most were filled with wonderful stories from years past, or the latest update on family, plus local and national news thrown in. She was deeply loved and is missed.
We will always honor both Orville and Margaret for their loving service to the Lord, their children and their spouses, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, and their extended family. Both Margaret and Orville cherished them all.
Margaret and Orville’s biggest desire was that ALL of their family would serve the Lord, and love Him with their whole heart as they both did.
What’s your fondest memory of Margaret?
What’s a lesson you learned from Margaret?
Share a story where Margaret's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Margaret you’ll never forget.
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