Phyllis J Erickson's Obituary
Phyllis Jane Erickson Of Tacoma, passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2013, at the Franciscan Hospice House. Determined to live until age 90, Phyllis achieved that goal on June 28 of this year. Born in Amarillo, Texas in 1923 and raised in Colorado and Utah, Phyllis received her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Utah in 1945, marrying her life partner, Jack Erickson, that same year. After World War II, living in campus housing, Phyllis was the family breadwinner during Jack's years of schooling to become a physician. The family moved to Tacoma for Jack's internship and the opening of his private practice in 1954. Phyllis was well known to the people of Washington. She began her political career in 1962 as the first woman elected to the Franklin Pierce School Board and in that same year founded the Parkland Unit of the League of Women Voters. She would later serve four terms, in the Washington State House of Representatives beginning in 1972. During her many years of public service Phyllis served on numerous community boards and organizations including: Member of the Community College Board; Chair of the Pierce County Council; Member of the Library Board; Board member of the Tacoma Musical Playhouse; member of both the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women; President of her Toastmaster Club; Chair of the County Cancer Crusade. She was active in all areas of education having served on national, state and local committees working with educational issues. While involved in all of this work, Phyllis was also wife, mother of four children, and general family mistress of all necessary, actions and activities that an active family require. She loved sharing stories about the many adventures the family had when the four children were growing up. Dr. Erickson continued in practice until 1985. Phyllis resigned as president of the Pierce County Council in 1986. Once they had both retired, they moved to Gig Harbor and began travelling in earnest, taking several trips a year and spending the Washington Wet Months in Arizona. After the death of her husband, Phyllis continued to travel while remaining active in the Tacoma community and in politics. She was proud of being a lifelong Democrat and took her commitment to the rights and needs of women and minorities very seriously, never giving up on the struggle for campaign reform as one step toward greater access and equity for all. In 2006, Phyllis sold her condo and moved into Narrows Glen where she lived until her death. She is survived by her daughter, Kendra Kuehn of Green Valley, Arizona and her three sons, Kent Erickson, Sacramento, Kirk Erickson, Seattle, and Kevin Erickson, Bonnie Lake, two daughters in law, four granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. A Memorial Service will be held May 1, 2014 at the Mountain View Funeral Home in Tacoma. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care, 253-534-7000.
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