Phyllis Lee Kanas

Phyllis Lee Kanas, 71, passed in the loving arms of her lord on January 31, 2017 at Willow Springs in Yakima. She was born in Spokane on June 2, 1945, when she was 2 days old she was adopted into the loving family of Phil and Wanda Heffelfinger of Kennewick, WA.

She graduated from Kennewick High in 1963 where she was a majorette, and performed baton twirling during halftime for the Rose Bowl. In her earlier years she married Butch Hall of Richland, WA and had her first daughter, Dana. She studied and taught modern dance and jazz at Etta Hacker’s Dance Studio in Kennewick. She then worked for a business called TRW as an Executive Secretary in Seattle, WA where she was later transferred to Los Angeles. After several years in the big city she moved back to Seattle where she met and married her second husband Andrew Kanas and had her second daughter Melissa. She took courses in interior design where her flare and talent showed in her home.

A few years later she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and for 40 years she was spunky and happy with all the ups and downs of her disease. She loved her two daughters, four grandchildren, and her great grandson who visited with her often in Yakima. Besides her love of decorating and dance she loved animals – especially cats and her frequent shopping trips.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Phil and Wanda Heffelfinger and Andrew Kanas of Portland, OR.

She is survived by daughters Dana (Brian) Reierson of Yakima, and Melissa Kanas of Long Beach; grandchildren Courtnie (Kristopher) Ramsey, Aubrey Reierson, Nikodemus and Augustis Kanas; and great grandchild Jackson Ramsey.

Special thanks to the caregivers of Willow Springs, Cedar Hills, and Mountainview Home and Health. Many thanks to Dr. Cox, Yakima Regional nurses, doctors, and Home Health and Hospice.

Viewing will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday at Keith & Keith Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be held at Keith & Keith Funeral Home on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.

Private interment will be at Tahoma Cemetery on Monday, February 6, 2017.

To celebrate the life of Phyllis and share a memory visit www.keithandkeith.com.