I'm so thrilled. I've never written an obituary before and was struggling with this process. I wanted it to capture Mark and not just be "the facts", that's not him. I had no choice w/ the Oregonian one, they are pure business unless you PAY for the stinkin' thing...no way! So I wrote one and submitted it to our Local paper and paper where Mark worked...and they printed it!! (they also printed a slightly different version of the big article in our local paper )
So here it is...
Mark William Phillips
Oct. 3, 1964 - June 21, 2006
Mark William Phillips, a Tualatin resident and youth minister of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lake Oswego, suffered a fatal heart attack June 21 while on a mission trip in Baton Rouge, La., with his youth group. He was 41.
He was born on Oct. 3, 1964, in Los Angeles.
He spent 12 years as a member of the New York Air National Guard and the Oregon Air National Guard and finished his duty in 2002 as a staff sergeant, with many honors and medals to his credit.
In 1995 he met his future wife Marissa in Salem. They moved to Tualatin in 1996 and were married in 1997. Son David was born in 1998.
Mr. Phillips had a successful career as a production/warehouse manager for local companies, including Office Depot and Advanced Materials and as a distribution manager for Hollywood Video.
He was a member of the Tualatin Kiwanis Club and loved golfing and bowling. He was an active member of several leagues at the Wilsonville Lanes, spending one season with his son. He also bowled at the state and national level. He was a member of the Pacific Coast Rover Club, spending a lot of time off-roading, camping and working on his beloved D-90.
In 2000 he and his wife started Cascade First Aid/CPR Training, LLC, an onsite corporate safety training business. He was a certified trainer through Medic First Aid International in First Aid/CPR, automated external defibrillators, blood borne pathogens, and carried many OSHA safety certifications. He was a well-liked instructor, often hearing Hey CPR Guy called out at local events.
He and his family were active members of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lake Oswego. He became a volunteer leader for the HS Ministry known as the Great Commission Sub Committee in 2002. During this time, his love for the students grew, and there was no way to separate him from them. His outgoing personality, goofy sense of humor and been there, done that attitude earned him love and respect from the youth and adults alike.
In 2004 he was asked to take on the position as HS youth director. During his time at OSLC he took students to Atlanta, Reno/Lake Tahoe, California, Mexico, Seattle, numerous local events and most recently Louisiana.
In October 2005 he attended Trinity Lutheran College in Issaquah, Wash., where he completed his certification of youth ministry through Wartburg Seminary. While there, he heard of the ongoing need in the Hurricane Katrina stricken areas. He returned from school with a fire in his heart, and although there were many objections and concerns, he led a successful trip to the New Orleans area.
In February this year he traveled to Les Anglais, Haiti, on a medical mission with Our Saviors Lutheran Church and Reciprocal Ministries International. He was the first white person to visit one beach village, and the children touched his heart in a strong way, so strong that he planned on moving his family to Haiti in two or three years to continue the Lords work.
Although he died during a performance of his choir, the group chose to remain for the remainder of the week and finish out the work that he had wanted them to do.
On June 28 a service to celebrate the life of Mark William Phillips was held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. He was surrounded and praised by more than 300 people, including the youth he loved so much.
In addition to his wife Marissa, survivors include their 8-year-old son David; sister Lynn; three nieces in California; his mother Katherine in Thousand Oaks, Calif.; his Aunt Donna and her three sons in Turner; and cousin Mike and family in Portland. In addition, there are more than 300 youth in the area who have served with him during the past four years and many Haitian children who will forever remember Pastor Mark.
The Mark Phillips Memorial Fund has been set up at any Sterling Savings Bank. Checks may be sent to the family at 21781 S.W. Chehalis Courtt, Tualatin 97062. The funds will assist the family in needed home repairs expenses as Mrs. Phillips has been a stay-at-home mother, and in a trust fund for son David.
