Phyllis L. Weakly's Obituary
On July 14, 2005, Phyllis Lillie Weakly passed the portal of this lifetime at age 89. She was the youngest of four children from the marriage of Joseph Wayne Sweet and Julia Helen Pimpara. She was born on March 11, 1916 in the home that her father built in Mondovi, WA, fifteen miles west of Spokane.In 1927 Phyllis, her mother, and stepfather, Albert Earl Dalrymple, her two older brothers-- Ray Walter and Eugene Wayne-- (both deceased) and her sister, Sylvia Fidelia Sweet Warren of Prineville, OR, moved to Tacoma.Phyllis attended Gray Junior High and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1932, with high marks and perfect attendance. It was during this time she met a musician, who later became a civilian and then a military pilot in World War II, whom she married July 21st 1940. Donald Virgil Weakly, Aug. 5, 1913 Â- Feb. 21, 1979, and Phyllis had their first child, Larry Ray in 1944 and their second child, Donald Bruce in 1947.In addition to her sister and her sons, Phyllis is survived by her granddaughter, Kathryn Grace, from the previous marriage of Donald Bruce and Tina Mullins; her sister-in-law, Norma Ball/Sweet /Hough of Tacoma; a cousin/1R, Mercina Pimpara/Gernstein and her husband Lawrence of Leigh, NE; and another cousin/1R, Vivian Viola Mitchell/Wagner of Wobach, NE and her husbandÂ's niece, Jessie M. Reynolds of Tacoma; as well as many nieces, nephews and their children.After high school Phyllis attended the beauty school in downtown Tacoma, became certified, and practiced through the forties. In the mid-fifties, she was hired by her lifelong Tacoma friends, Roger (deceased) and Dolores Adams, who owned and operated the South Tacoma Roller Bowl for seventeen years, where she was known for her delicious hamburgers.Having learned as a child, sewing was a lifelong enjoyment and after attending classes at Bates Technical College, she created an entire wardrobe from menÂ's suits to women's shoes, hand purses, passport holders and even upholstery for a 1947 Studebaker truck.As a child, Phyllis took piano lessons but somewhere early in life she heard someone play an organ and always wanted one. She fulfilled that dream in the late fifties and took lessons on that instrument over the next thirty years, becoming quite proficient, mostly just for her own enjoyment. Also, since both PhyllisÂ' and DonÂ's parents were farmers, she enjoyed keeping a flower and vegetable garden, did much canning, and also enjoyed cooking.Phyllis was affiliated with the Christian Science Church in South Tacoma for many years, but began attending the Unity Church of Tacoma about 1953 through 1999. Phyllis was one of a few remaining members at the new Unity Church that attended the original Unity services held in downtown Tacoma near the old Temple Theater. As early as high school, she was interested in Unity, where she would be reading the Daily Word when she was supposed to be reading history!If there is one thing Phyllis brought to this world it was love. Having been raised by gentle and caring parents, she, her sister, and brothers, brought peace, love, and kindness into the lives of everyone they touched.Our family expresses our deepest gratitude to each and every one of those on the many teams of Tacoma's medical professionals who provided care for us including the Fire and Ambulance Departments, St Joseph's Hospital staff, and especially those at Franciscan Health Care.Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life at 3:00 p.m. on July 27, 2005 in the Mountain View Garden Chapel, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Tacoma, WA.In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to:Global Country Of World Peace; memo line; Seattle Central/PLW, 2817 10th Ave. E, Seattle, WA 98102.
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