PHYLLIS ALICENIA GOOKINS CHAUSSEE of Lynnwood, Washington passed away on 10-30-2013. She was born in 1943 in Tacoma, the daughter of John and Wanda (O’Flyng) Gookins and was raised in the Gig Harbor area overlooking Fox Island. She attended Peninsula High and graduated Valedictorian and went on to attend WSU. There she met her life mate Monty Chaussee. They married in 1964. While finishing her Master degree at UW they were blessed with their first daughter Katie and then a few years later with their second Karin.
Phyllis dedicated her professional life to teaching and influencing elementary school children. Over the years in the Edmonds School District, she taught most elementary grades. She remained a substitute teacher and fixture at Hilltop Elementary until the very end. Her career lasted 48 years and she enriched the lives of thousands of students
She had varied interests and academic quests. Her love of history, puzzles and mysteries lead the way to her pursuit in genealogy. She published three books and volunteered as a genealogy librarian. Phyllis loved to cook and entertain, her flower garden was a labor of love and a source pride. Traveling was particularly exciting and a joy to both she and her husband Monty. They visited all fifty states and over seventy countries!
Phyllis is survived by her husband Monty, daughter Katie Bristol and husband Sonny, daughter Karin and Guy Anderson, and grandsons Ryan Bristol and Max Anderson, as well as her brother Ray and his wife Joan Gookins.
A memorial service will be held at Hilltop Elementary Gymnasium. We choose to celebrate her at this location because Hilltop was her sanctuary, the staff was her fellowship and students were her congregation.
Memorial Celebration
November 16, 2013 – 1pm
Hilltop Elementary Gymnasium
20425 Damson Road, Lynnwood, WA 98036
Memorial donations for Edmonds School District – Memo section “In memory of Phyllis Chaussee”