Camilla J. Phillipson

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Camilla. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who touched the lives of countless friends and extended family. She passed peacefully on October 14th, 2022, surrounded by her adoring family and friends who provided prayers and peace during her final weeks.

Camilla Jones Phillipson was born in Spokane, Washington, on February 25th, 1930. She was the 5th of 7 children born to Ethelbert and Marie Harms Jones, who had settled in a beautifully rural section of West Spokane. She grew up surrounded by a large extended family and was famously close to her sister Anna Maria and cousin Lucille Harms; the stories of the three girls’ antics are legendary. As a child Camilla attended Occidental school, a one-room schoolhouse in her neighborhood where many students rode their ponies to school each day.

As a teenager, Camilla worked for a neighbor who encouraged her to save up and purchase real estate in the neighborhood; this was a bold move for a single working gal in the ‘50’s. She met and fell in love with Wallace H. Phillipson on the eve of World War 2 and kept his spirits up during his service in the Merchant Marines with her frequent, witty letters from home. Their love grew during the war years through their written correspondence, and they began planning a life together after the war. Wally credits his optimism, and indeed his very survival, to the love in Camilla’s long letters and the hopes and dreams they shared during those terrifying years of the war.

Their loving bond was strong enough to survive not only World War 2, but Wally’s extended assignment in the Korean War as well; however, it almost did not survive an awkward gift giving moment when, on leave at Christmas, Wally bought identical necklaces for both his mother and Camilla! Luckily, Camilla always saw the humor in life and knew how to embrace the most important blessings that came her way. After Wally returned stateside in 1952, they were married in Spokane. This past May 24th they were able to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary surrounded by their extended family and many generations of loving friends.

During the early years of their marriage, Camilla and Wally welcomed sons Andrew and Matt, followed by daughters Marie and Sarah. The Spokane community and the Lutheran Church were priorities for Camilla and Wally, who exemplified the spirit of service and selflessness throughout their seven decades of marriage. Camilla was a tireless volunteer, heading up countless potluck dinners and rummage sales for the benefit of others. An avid gardener, she was an environmentalist ahead of her time. She was a founding member of the Arborettes, a local group stewarding the development and preservation of Finch Arboretum, the Garden Club and was an annual judge of the flora at the Spokane Interstate Fair.

Camilla was the original “Renaissance Woman,” leading an incredibly active and proactive life that was truly ahead of her time. She introduced Yoga classes to the community in the early 1970’s, joined a private jet traveling club to visit destinations around the world, and attended college as a middle-aged working mother. In the 1970’s she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees while raising her children and keeping up her duties as wife, mother, gardener, and homemaker. Her adventurous spirit and confident attitude marked her as a woman who was truly a torchbearer for working women.

At her nurturing core, Camilla was a loving, brilliant, and generous woman who touched countless lives with her selflessness and big heart. When her sister was living abroad, her Turkish nieces and nephew moved in with Camilla and Wally as members of the extended family. Throughout her life Camilla told people she raised 7 children, not just 4. When the sibling squabbles erupted in the household, Camilla was thankful that she did not speak nor understand Turkish—sparing her Christian sensibilities from some very salty language indeed!

A trailblazer in everything she did, Camilla expertly balanced her job working nights at the Old National Bank while attending Eastern Washington University for her undergraduate degree. She went on to attend Whitworth University for her graduate degree in Social Work and Counseling. She was truly a role model for her children; everyone remembers when this middle-aged mother of 7 accepted the honor of being chosen Valedictorian at her Whitworth graduation. Those 7 years that the IBM typewriter occupied valuable space on the family dinner table produced more than essays and term papers: it led to a remarkable career at DSHS where she helped society’s most vulnerable by keeping children safe and heathy.

The family cabin at Coeur d’Alene Lake created their most treasured memories for Wally and Camilla, for over three generations. Summers were spent on the water, enjoying all types of activities and culminated each evening with a campfire. More cards were played there than Vegas and Reno combined. Her gardens were legendary, and many boats arrived from around the lake to see her beautiful clematis trellises and roses every year. Her organic “homemade” fertilizer was, however, NOT a beautiful experience for Wally and the kids who evacuated the premises for days to avoid the stench! Camilla and Wally were thrilled to see the cabin stay in the family after they were no longer vigorous enough to physically maintain it.

Later in life, Camilla continued to volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission Women's and Children's Shelter, Second Harvest Food Bank, The Women and Children’s Free Restaurant, Lion’s Club, and underserved Spokane Public Schools. While “vacationing” in their winter home in Arizona, she and Wally volunteered in the public schools, food bank, senior centers, Vital Organ Transplant teams, and Lion’s Club. When visiting Wally and Camilla in Arizona, many friends and family members would often assist them in making 300 sandwiches for underprivileged children or glean 100 trees before they could tee off! Camilla lived a life of service and love for mankind, and whenever she saw a need she answered the call.

During their retirement, Camilla and Wally enjoyed years of extensive travel by taking many trips with their lifelong friends the Josunds, the Olsens, and the Beyers. This group (known as the JBOP’s) never took themselves too seriously; they shared a love of travel, humor, and genuinely enjoyed one another’s company. Camilla’s capacity for friendship and love were boundless, and she cultivated friends in much the same way she produced her beautiful gardens. She instinctively nurtured people and demonstrated her selfless gifts of grace and generosity without limits. This love was evident in her close relationships with her five grandchildren; she would have been thrilled to be present to welcome her first great-grandchild this coming January.

Camilla is survived by the love of her life and husband of 70 years, Wally; son Andy (Noreen,) son Matt (Phina,) daughter Marie and daughter Sarah (Dennis Beemer.) Her grandchildren include Alexandria Phillipson Hendrickson (Brett,) Parker Phillipson, Kayla Kramer, Samantha Beemer, and Cole Beemer. She is also survived by her brother Michael Jones, and numerous loving nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Camilla's memorial service will be held at Manito Golf and Country Club on December 2nd, 2022 at 11am.