Phyllis Zatrine

8/19/1915 – 3/5/2011
Phyllis Louise Zatrine, age 95 of Bellingham, passed away on March 5, 2010.    She was born on August 19, 1915 to George and Lula Kalberg on Lopez Island, WA.   At age 6, she and her family moved to Anacortes, WA, and at age 11 the family moved to Bellingham, WA, where she lived for the rest of her life.
As a child, Phyllis was very active and could climb any tree and hang upside down from the playground bars.  Her father said he saw more of the seat of her pants than her face.  Phyllis graduated from Whatcom High School in 1933.  She then went to live with the E.B. Deming family where she was a personal caregiver for Mrs. Deming for 7 years.  In 1941, Phyllis married Henry Zatrine.  They were joined by Henry’s 17 year old son, Homer Zatrine and later by the births of their daughter Katherine “Kay” and their son Steven.  She spent many years as a homemaker, wife and mother.  After raising her family, Phyllis took up the game of golf and played in the ladies league at Lake Padden until age 92.  She also learned to play bridge and enjoyed the game up until the time of her death.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her 7 siblings and her husband Henry.  She is survived by her stepson, Homer Zatrine, her daughter Kay Marsh and her son Steven (wife Diem) Zatrine.  She also leaves behind 6 grandchildren, 12 nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.
Phyllis will be remembered by all for her beautiful smile and her ever-present sense of humor.  She took an active part in all aspects of her life including dictating this obituary which she did several weeks before her death.  Memorials may be made to First Congregational Church or Whatcom Hospice.  A celebration of Phyllis’s life will be held at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham on Saturday, March 26th at 1 PM.
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