Phyllis M. Garrison, 89, of Vashon passed away on May 2, 2017.

Born June 26, 1927, in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, Phyllis was the eldest child of the late Harry H. Peerboom and Barbara Peerboom.

Phyllis is survived by her husband Kenneth D.

Garrison of Vashon; a brother Jerry Peerboom(Arvilla) of Goodrich, North Dakota; a sister Joanne Hamilton of Olympia, Washington; five children; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and five nieces and nephews.

Phyllis spent her childhood on the windswept prairie of North Dakota during the depression. The family lived in a boxcar and her father farmed sheep. Later, they moved to Denhoff, North Dakota, where her mother took a job as the local Postmaster. Once Phyllis graduated high school, class of five, she headed to the Northwest to live with a cousin and attend the University of Washington. While attending school she met Ken Garrison. They were married in July 1950 and started a family. The children were raised at Ober beach while Ken commuted to Bremerton for work. A move to Bremerton and then Seattle were necessary for Ken’s employment. Once the children were on their own, Ken and Phyllis traveled to Alaska and San Francisco for work and play. The arrival of grandchildren brought Grandma Phyllis and Grandpa Ken back to the Seattle area to enjoy the upbringing of the children’s children. They lived in Seattle for eighteen years until Ken retired for the third time at 84. Their last move brought them back to Vashon where they lived until Phyllis passed. The community of Ellisport is where they settled and where they felt at home. They met wonderful people who cared about them and made them feel welcome, always.

The family will hold an Open-House Memorial and picnic to celebrate Phyllis. The memorial will be at the home of Jim Garrison and Trish Howard on Saturday, June 24th, 2017, from 2-5pm. 10930 SW 238th St. Vashon.

Phyllis was tenderhearted, compassionate and content. A standout in her profession as mother, wife and grandmother.