Phyllis was born in Tukwila, Washington to Hannah and Nelius Horgen. In her early years, the family moved to Clark Forks, Idaho and Anacortes before returning to Seattle in 1927. Her father was killed in an accident while dredging the Swinomish Slough in La Conner in 1931. With her mother and sister Lillian, they operated "The Owl Cafe", serving the fishing community in Ballard. Her mother died of cancer in 1936, so she moved in with Lillian. She attended Ballard High School, where she lettered in basketball and learned to play violin. She graduated in 1938 and enrolled in Seattle Secretarial School, graduating a year later. She worked in the Navy Yard in Bremerton as secretary to the Senior Naval Architect, commuting daily on the ferry Kalakala until 1943, when she was transferred to the 13th Naval District Headquarters in Seattle. However, she was bored in the position. In her journal she wrote, "In disgust one day I went upstairs and joined the Marine Corps."

She spent time in New York, Washington, D.C., and San Diego where she was in charge of Officer Personnel, endorsing and writing orders for all Marine officers heading overseas. In October 1943 she was sent to Officer Candidate School at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. One day she engaged in a discussion with a Second Lieutenant who reminded Phyllis that "I'm your superior officer." When Phyllis responded "in rank only" she found herself back in San Diego at her previous rank of sergeant. After stints in Providence, Rhode Island, back to Camp LeJuene, and San Diego, she was honorably discharged in October, 1945.

After the war she took a job as secretary to the Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital, followed by a job at Rafael's Jewelers, both in Seattle. Mutual friends introduced her to Clifford Peterson, a young man she'd met some years earlier at one of the many Seattle dance clubs; they began to date and were married in February 1951. As the family grew with the addition of sons Don, Norris, and Paul, they moved to an 8 acre farm in Bothell where Clifford designed the family's new home. Living there until 1970, she described these as "the fun years." She had a 1950 Pontiac that hauled the kids and "Aunt Lil" to Grocery Boys in Lynnwood every week for supplies, and there were plenty of animals, from cats and dogs to chickens, cows and horses, to keep everyone busy. The pool we put up every summer was a source of many neighborhood gatherings and lots of fun. She was the cub scout den leader, referee when her kids were fighting and cheerleader when they succeeded. When she had some spare time, she loved to paint, starting with watercolors but transitioning to oils.

When Paul entered school, Phyllis returned to work as an executive secretary, first for an engineering firm, followed by long stints at Bothell State Bank and People's National Bank in Seattle. She retired in 1981 and moved with Clifford to Camano Island in 1982. In retirement, she returned to painting with watercolor. She took lessons at Skagit Valley College and then taught lessons herself at the Camano Senior Center. Over the years she sold many of her originals and gave away many more. The dozens of unframed originals still remaining are a wonderful legacy and reminder of her talent. She also ruled her kitchen and read hundreds of, as she called them, "trashy novels." Every day she wrote in her journal. She collected beautiful antiques and classy jewelry, a source of real joy that Clifford indulged for many birthdays and anniversaries.

But more than anything, Phyllis loved her family. She and Clifford shared 64 years together, enjoying time with their three boys and their spouses, their grandchildren and great grandchildren. As she wrote in her journal, "I thank God every day for my good life." So do we, her family.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 1:00pm at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Stanwood. Memorials may be made to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 27201 - 99th Ave. NW, Stanwood, WA 98292.