Phyllis Louise Bliven, 80, passed away May 22, 2009. Born May 25, 1928 in Helena, Mont., to Roy and Helen Bowman, Phyllis spent the first six years of her life in Kalispell, Mont. Her family then moved to Bellingham.

On Nov. 9, 1944, Phyllis married her high school sweetheart, Harry Bliven. In 1953 Phyllis and Harry moved to Oak Harbor. Phyllis was a stay-at-home mom until 1962, when she joined the work force to help assure their daughters’ educations. She was hired as a stock worker for the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Commissary and then began work for Civil Service aboard the Naval Air Station in supply as a Supply Support clerk. She retired in 1981.

Phyllis was a longtime member of the Oak Harbor Emblem Club 450. She enjoyed gardening, needlework, dancing, singing, boating and any time spent with her family. Phyllis was known for her sympathetic heart and her infectious laugh. She was courageous, true and loyal, and by example, never stopped teaching her family what those qualities were.

Phyllis will be dearly missed by her two daughters, Penny Zettlemeyer of Everett and Kathy Beattie (Don) of Bellingham; four grandchildren, Jake, Erin, Quinn and Curtis; and two great-grandchildren, Gracyn and Jackson. She is also survived by her sister Evelyn Wade of California.

Funeral services for Phyllis Bliven will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Burley Funeral Chapel, with graveside services to follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., and on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.