Phyllis Josephine Green

9/20/1935 — 7/28/2023

Service Date: 8/4/2023
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Phyllis Josephine Green-

“One today is worth two tomorrows.”

The last of the Council Valley Heathco sisters, Phyllis J. Green, passed away on Friday, the 28^th of July 2023. She was both blessed to be at the home of her youngest son, George Green, in Lewiston, ID, and to be attended by both George and his older sister, Vickie at the time of her peacefulpassing in the arms of family.

Phyllis is survived by all four of her children, her 15 grandchildren, and her many great-grandchildren.

Phyllis was born on September the 20^th, 1935, on Cottonwood Creek, six miles south of Council. The youngest of eight surviving children born to Bertha Permiller (Wheeler) and George Jasper Heathco, Phyllis spent most of her childhood on the Cottonwood family homestead. She attended Cottonwood School during elementary years and graduated from Council High School in 1953.

She married Richard (Dick) Leo Green from Indian Valley, ID on October 20, 1953, in Council, ID. Dick was in the Navy and for the first eight years of their marriage, they moved frequently. Their first child, Vickie, was born while Dick was stationed in Seattle, WA. Three years later their second child, Richard Leo, was born in Council, ID. The next two years were spent in Springville, UT.

Mom wanted their children to have continuity at school and not have the typical service family experience of relocating based on the Navy’s demands. Also, knowing that Dad’s naval duties would prevent him from being home regularly and that she would be, for all intents and purposes, parenting solo, Council was the obvious choice, being the location of both parents’ extended family. So, in the latter part of 1961, shortly before Vickie’s 6^th birthday, the family returned home to the Council Valley. Their third child, Mark, was born shortly after this move, and four years later, George joined the family.

Mom’s choice of returning home allowed all four of her children to begin first grade at Council Elementary and progress through to graduating from Council High School. She wouldn’t know it at the time, but in fact, it allowed all ten of her grandchildren the same opportunity. Her choice turned out to be fortuitous as her marriage ended in divorce and she never re-married.

Mom loved her family, the mountains, fishing, and picking huckleberries. She was happiest when spending time with her children and their families, and sharing her belief that the mountains were the best place to spend time, regardless of the season! Later, when grandchildren began to arrive, and arrive, and arrive, Mom shared her passion for picking huckleberries and the secrets of hidden patches in the outdoors with them just as passionately as she had with her children. A loaf of bread rising in a windowsill was as ever present in Mom’s house as was her indoor flower garden. Duringthe holidays, she could always be counted on for a huckleberry delight and a chocolate pie. Listening to her tell the grandchildren that the pie was even better than Robert Redford’s “better than sex cake” always brought a smile to the adults in the room.

While Mom always enjoyed feeding wild birds, when her health and mobility began limiting her ability to get to the mountains, watching birds at the many feeders she had around her yard became even more important to her. Mom loved visiting with people around the community, and always wished the best for others.

Graveside services will be held at 12:00 pm, Friday, August the 4^th Mountain time at Cottonwood Cemetery. Potluck to follow at Mark Green’s residenceNE of the cemetery.

Services will be conducted through Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home. https://vassar-rawls.com/

Memorial donations may be made in Phyllis’s name to Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF): https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/

Service Information

Date & Time: Friday, August 4, 12:00 PM
Location: Cottonwood Cemetery
1650 US Hwy. 95
Council, Idaho 83612

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Additional Details: Potluck to follow at Mark Green’s residence NE of the cemetery.