Phyllis Joyce Jones Harsh

Phyllis Jones Harsh, 87 of Mercer Island passed on May 29, 2011. Phyllis was born on August 11, 1923 in Okanogan, WA to John Byrd Jones Jr. and Lena Wiltz.

Phyllis graduated from Omak High School in 1942. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy in 1946. While at University of Washington, she was president and charter member of the Chi Chapter of the Lambda Kappa Sigma sorority. After finishing college she married George Randall Harsh and had two children, John and Terri. Prior to 1960 she worked as a pharmacist for Group Health and Medical Dental Hospital. From 1960-1971 she worked at Virginia Mason hospital and participated in a research grant for Providence Hospital from 1966-1967. Later she worked for Harbor View Hospital as a preceptor (teacher), she also worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Colville Indian Health Clinic and Yellow Hawk Medical Center (Umatilla Tribe) in Pendleton, Oregon. In addition, she gained her Alaska Pharmacist License and worked briefly in Alaska while keeping her license active in Washington before retiring. In retirement she spent time in the San Juan Islands as a companion/caregiver to her aunt Nell Robinson. In her life she loved dancing, skiing, sailing, diving, flying, travel, painting and live theater. She is survived by her son, John Harsh of Port Angeles; daughter, Terri Harsh of Mercer Island; sister, Pat Vance of California and various members of the Jones, Wiltz and Madsen families. In lieu of memorial service, donations may be made to support neurological research at: Virginia Mason Foundation, PO Box 1980, Mailstop D1-MF, Seattle, WA 98111.

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