Phyllis Jean Bauer McCurdie passed away on July 22, 2026, at the age of 84. She was born to Wes and Ellen Boggs on September 29, 1941, in the back room of her grandparents’ store at Blueslide, Washington. The oldest of four children, she leaves behind her sister, Gail (husband,Lyle-deceased) and was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon (husband, Dean-deceased) and her brother, Ted (wife, JoAnn).

When Phyllis was 15, she married Don Bauer and they led an adventurous life until he passed away 50 years later. She started her family at 18 and by the time she was 21, she had given birth to LaDonna (Michael), Linda (Cory-deceased), Cliff (Gloria), and Lori (John). Phyllis took great pride in her children. They were always well fed, well dressed, and well mannered. As they grew up, she supported them in school, 4-H, county fair, saddle club, sports, church activities. Along with her own four children, there were several occasions when she and Don welcomed high school students needing temporary housing into their home for months and sometimes years.

Phyllis loved people and socializing with them. Weekends were filled with neighbors dropping in for coffee. She made friends with people in the rodeo and horse racing circuit as they traveled around to events. The family enjoyed camping with large groups and everyone was welcome to join in. Women in her retirement communities met with her in the mornings for walking group. And she participated in Bible Study groups wherever she found herself.

So much went on in her small community and she put her energy into contributing. The Roaring 20's was a group of ambitious young women in Usk and Cusick, and she was a founding member. Over the years they had a big impact on the local area, sponsoring fair dances, Santa, scholarships, talent shows, the development of the Cusick beach, and much more. Always looking forward to the Pend Oreille County Fair, she did her part by volunteering in the ticket stand, cleaning the vegetable booth, providing a sand pit salted with coins and old trucks for the little ones, or filling in wherever needed.

Don was a good provider, but every now and again, Phyllis would work at Pennell's Fur Farm feeding the mink. This brought in a little extra money for big ticket items like a colored TV or a console stereo to play the country music she adored. Once Don retired from IBEX construction, she worked along side him whether it was pulp wooding, picking fruit, or tending the lodge and slopes at 49 Degrees North.

In the later years, they became snowbirds and stationed themselves in Ouartzsite, Arizona as they rambled through Nevada, California, Colorado, and Mexico. But the majority of each year saw them at home on the Cusick Flats where they doted on their eight grandsons, step grandson, step granddaughter, nieces and nephews. Phyllis was known for showing up anywhere and everywhere with the trunk of her car filled with unimaginable goodies for them and their friends to feast upon. She continued to be a fixture in their lives as they grew up, some adding wives and great grandchildren to the mix.

Don’s death did not keep Phyllis from living an active life. She headed off to Arizona on her own, praying that God would send her a man that wore cowboy boots. He answered her prayers when she met Ed McCurdie, a Montana man vacationing in Ouartzsite. They were married and Ed became her traveling companion, her dance partner, and in her last years, her loving care giver.

In addition to those already mentioned, Phyllis will be missed by her 14 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends far and wide.

A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on Aug. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Usk Community Center.