Phyllis Simon Church

Aug 27, 1935 -

Apr 7, 2024

Phyllis died of dementia in the Let Us Care Assisted Living Home in Fairbanks, Alaska. She was lovingly cared for by her daughter Shannon Knight until 24-hour care was necessary after falling breaking her hip.

Phyllis was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and was 11 years old when her family came to Anchorage, Alaska. She was "smitten" with skiing in junior high school and went on to win many championships in Alaska. She went on to the national scene, where she was on the 1957 National Ski Team and gained a place on the U.S. Ski team and trained for the FIS Team, an international competition similar to the Olympics, but for skiing.

She worked as a clerk typist for the Civil Aviation Association and as a stewardess with Cordova and Pacific Northern Airlines. The 1964 earthquake forced her and her family to move to Fairbanks, which was to be only a temporary move. She started working for an accounting firm but eventually went on to have her own successful accounting and tax business. Shortly after being disrupted in the 1964 earthquake, she experienced the flood of the Chena River, but again survived another disaster. She proved she was a survivor!

Besides being honored as "Businesswoman of the Year" in 1981, she was involved with many community groups: President of the Fairbanks Garden Club, The Pioneers Auxiliary, Interior Alaska Sourdough Club, Friends of the Museum, The Alaskan Society of Independent Accountants, the Fairbanks Light Opera and Women of the Wilderness, and continued to ski and hike in as many adventurous areas that she could find until her dementia.

She wished her ashes to be scattered at Eagle Peak, one of her favorite places, on June 21, 2024, one of her favorite days of the year.