John Marshall Mcphilimy

John M. McPhilimy, cabinetmaker, furniture designer and long-time Boulder business owner, passed away at Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital on May 1, 2021. He was 84. His wife, Glennys, was at his side, as she had been for 52 years.

John was born on Dec. 9, 1936, in Indiana, PA, to John Marshall McPhilimy Jr. and Dorothy Kelly McPhilimy. He spent his early school years in Huntington Park, CA, and Avon Lake, OH, before moving to Boulder in 1951. He attended Casey Junior High, Boulder High School – class of 1955 – and the University of Colorado, and served two years in the U.S. Army.

He opened his first cabinet shop in a chicken coop on north 28th Street, then a dirt road on the outskirts of town. He grew High Country Furniture into a successful cabinet and millwork business with customers across the country. After several expansions, the company settled on 49th Street in east Boulder in 1979. Later, he founded Sunbird Designs, which built his line of Southwest and Shaker-style furniture.

John was president of the Colorado chapter of the Architectural Woodwork Institute, and served on the national board of AWI. He was a member of the Lake Eldora volunteer ski patrol in the 1970s

He and Glennys were married in Boulder on June 8, 1969. They made numerous trips to Mexico and the Caribbean, and traveled more extensively after retirement, including to Australia, New Zealand, Alaska and Europe. For more than 25 years they enjoyed spending winter months in Scottsdale, AZ.

John is survived by his sister Nancy McPhilimy Riebe of Belgrade, MT., brother Keith McPhilimy and sister Marcia Morrison, both of Chandler, AZ., nephews Tom Riebe (Belgrade) and Dan Riebe of Hallandale, Fl., nieces Kris Xavier of Fresno, CA, and Kathy Riebe of Belgrade.

Per John’s wishes, no services will be held. Donations in his memory may be made to Meals on Wheels of Boulder, 3701 Canfield St., Boulder 80302, or the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, 4869 N. Broadway, Boulder 80304.