Baker City, Oregon
Julia M. Spriet Phillips, 91, of Baker City, died Friday, May 17, 2002, at a foster care home.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. After the committal service at the cemetery, everyone is invited to a potluck gathering at Phillips Park to celebrate Julia’s life.
Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home.
Julia was born May 28, 1910, in Baker City to Ivo Spriet and Alida Verhaeghe Spriet, immigrants from Wingna, Belgium.
Along with her brothers, Frank, Willie, Marcel, and Adiel, the family lived and worked on a farm in the foothills of the Elkhorns. Raising their own food and working with horses left little time for much recreation other than dances held on a rotational basis with other county homes.
It was at a local dance where she met, dated, and later married William Harve Phillips on July 4, 1928, at the St. Francis Rectory. Their honeymoon included an airplane ride and trip to Portland with her parents.
Julia’s deepest values revolved around her home, family, and the Catholic Church. Two sons, Don and Leroy Phillips, together with a daughter, Joyce Phillips Bryan, and 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren were the joy of her life. She loved children and volunteered many years baby-sitting for her own grandchildren, great- grandchildren and several churches so parents could attend church services without interruption.
Her flowers and gardening were also a source of joy and satisfaction. She spent countless hours raising a garden, canning food, and distributing the surplus to her children and grandchildren. Her raspberries were a labor of love for the entire family.
Julia worked outside the home for 23 years at St. Elizabeth Hospital, mending and sewing. Of particular pride were her seamstress duties to make the habits for the Sisters of Notre Dame.
Julia’s unconditional love and support for her family will always be treasured. She was a sweet, gentle lady who through hard work and sacrifice raised a family during the Depression and was always a source of acceptance and inspiration. We, her family and friends, offer our warmest gratitude to have shared her life and to have every lovely, lasting memory!
Julia was preceded in death by her father and mother Ivo and Alida; her brothers, Marcel and Willie Spriet and her grandson, Daniel S. Phillips.
Survivors include her sons, Don and Leroy Phillips, both of Baker City; daughter, Joyce Phillips Bryan of Salem; brothers Deal Spriet of Baker City and Frank Spriet of San Bernardino, Calif.; grandchildren, Terri Axness, Jan Phillips, Debra Day, Minda Vaughan, Tami Maciejko, Mike Phillips, Judy Chastain, Dave Phillips, Ann Vanboxtel Bryan, Karen Phillips Bryan, Kevin and Tom Bryan; 26 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Presley Wayne Scholarship Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 24, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor