Phyllis Jean Atkins' Obituary
Phyllis Jean (Christensen) Atkins was born to Walter and Clara Christensen in Tacoma, WA on February 6,1933. Phyllis grew up with an older brother Walter Jr. (Bud) on Tacoma’s McKinley Hill where her father was a fireman at the nearby Station 11. She attended neighborhood schools McKinley, Gault and Lincoln. She grew up surrounded by a large loving extended family of Norwegian and Danish heritage.
She worked at the local Park Theater and downtown Woolworths, where on one occasion was dressed as a doll for the store window display. She had a beautiful voice and could play the piano or any instrument she picked up by ear. She loved music, big bands, musicals, movies and dancing.
She married Bobby Joe Atkins in San Diego, CA on January 9, 1957. Coronado, CA would become her home as a Navy wife, with Bobby Joe a Navy UDT Frogman and later Navy SEAL. Coronado would be home from 1957-1969 and two daughters would be born, Karyn (December 1957) and Susan (May 1961). She loved the sun, beach, flowers and the quiet, small town life Coronado brought. She became involved with her girl’s school activities, room mother, Brownie leader, swimming and dancing lessons.
In 1969 after 22 years of being a Navy wife, Bobby Joe would retire and University Place, WA would become home. Their family became complete with the arrival of their 3rd daughter Kristin (Kryssi) April 1972. Phyllis had her girls! She would continue to be involved with her girl’s activities. Blue Birds, Drill team, ice skating and teaching Kryssi to cook. She was a good teacher because Kryssi loves to cook and cooks just like Mom!
She enjoyed bowling every Friday morning on a team filled with lifelong friends and cheering on the Curtis Vikings with Bobby Joe. Her home was always open and filled with love and “goodies”. Everyone knew the cookie drawer and candy cupboard. She was like a second mom to many of her daughter’s friends and family over the years, there they found love and shelter.
As her family began to grow so did her heart and becoming a Grandma or “Gram” as she would be called was her greatest joy. She loved her grandchildren Brynna, Brandon, Khrystina, Christopher, Jeffrey, Alexander, Cameron and Quinn and was “GG” to her great grandchildren Cruz, Asher, Macie and Tristan.
She was a Gram who truly played with her grandchildren and through play taught them many things. You would find her down on the floor building roads, forts, book houses, telling Gram stories, learning letters, playing games and practicing numbers on the chalk board. Playing piano, making cookies and Gram’s fudge. Playing old maid, poker and watching movies, reading and singing “Hush-a-Bye” and being held tight before going “night-night”.
Even though her health had begun to decline by the time Cruz, Asher, Macie and Tristan came along she just adjusted from the floor to her big chair that went up and down like a ride. She still sang, played games, dressed up, wore the hard hat, read stories and played the piano. But mostly she just held them and said I love you to each one.
She loved the musical Sound of Music so here are a few of her favorite things: M&M’s, goldfish, popcorn, “Mexican” ice-cream, Danish Kringle’s, cookies or pie for breakfast, shopping, shoes, purses, reading, watching the game channel, the colors aqua, teal and all the blues, laying in the sun, especially in Maui. She loved visiting Europe, with Norway being her favorite, where she met relatives and saw where her grandma lived and went to church. She loved doing crossword puzzles, word searches, filing and painting her nails, wine and lemon drops. Spending time out at the Beach House where she slept in the “grandma” room. She loved all animals especially grand dog Sophie.
When she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and Parkinson’s disease over 5 ½ years ago, she was asked what keeps you going and gives you strength? Her answer was simple “my faith, my family and my friends”. My 3 F’s have sustained me throughout my life.
Phyllis passed away peacefully on January 24, 2021 at home with her family by her side. She was laid to rest with her beloved husband and next to their cherished granddaughter Brynna.
We love you forever,
Daughters Karyn and Phil Lund, Susan and Brian Fogde, Kryssi Atkins-Yost, and niece who was like a daughter Danette and Jim Boone. Grandchildren Khrystina and Joseph Navarro, Brandon and Ashleigh Hardeman, Christopher and Alexander
Lund, Jeffrey and Olivia Nodtvedt, Cameron and Quinn Fogde. Great grandchildren Cruz and Asher Navarro and Macie and Tristan Hardeman. Devoted nephew Tom and Judy Christensen, special cousins who were more like sisters, Murial Malone and Donna Kane. A loving aunt and cousin to the Hardeman, Olli, Christensen, Lovgren, Davies-John, Olsen and Atkins families. Beloved childhood friends Pat Wells and Doris Pearsall.
She was proceeded in death by her parents Walter and Clara Christensen, brother Walter Jr (Bud), husband Bobby Joe and granddaughter Brynna Matthew-Nodtvedt and niece Janet Davies and many dear family and friends.
A special thank you to Dr. Masood and the nursing staff at MultiCare Regional Cancer Center for their love and care. Because of that care she would like any donations to be made to the MultiCare Foundation Oncology Department or Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation for Childhood Cancer for their care of her grandson Christopher.
A celebration of life will take place hopefully late summer when more COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted at one of her favorite places – The Lund Beach House. Invitations and notices when scheduled.
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