Obituary: Nancy Carol Phillips, 83

Nancy Carol Phillips, 83 took her last walk into the forest on April 21, 2021.

She was born to Edward and Leona Hamilton in Hydaburg, Alaska. She was raised at Hydaburg and Waterfall Cannery along with her brothers and sisters. Her father was a salmon seiner and her mother worked the cannery line during the salmon season. She later attended Sheldon Jackson High School. She married Jake Phillips and they moved to Pelican in 1962.

She fished many years on the ocean - fishing salmon, halibut, and sablefish. She started fishing with Jake in 1956 trolling for salmon on the Lila C and they went on to own and fish the F/V’s Kruzof, Aloha, Nancy K, Shamrock, and Lea. They fished the offshore waters of southeast Alaska, including fishing tuna as far south as San Diego and fishing halibut and salmon as far west as Kodiak Island, and salmon seined out of Hydaburg. Nancy was a fisherman’s daughter and an equal partner power trolling for salmon with Jake with their young sons aboard. She was a sight to see gaffing salmon and pulling them aboard, the whole gambit, cleaning, icing and unloading. The crew who worked with Nancy knew her to out work many of them and she was the “best cook” providing many a hot meal for their hardworking crew. Her sons and grandsons inherited her work ethic.

After retiring from a life on the sea, Nancy and Jake enjoyed their days at their Sunnyside cabin near Pelican, watching the grandchildren grow before their elder years moved them to Sitka.

She was a renowned jigsaw puzzle player and enjoyed playing cards with her lady friends. Nancy got much enjoyment seeing her great grandchildren play and appreciated her grandsons bringing their kids around.

She was preceded in death by son John C. Phillips; parents Ed and Leona Hamilton; sisters Frances Brown, Willa Randall, Evelyn Hill, Barbara Leask; and brothers Jonathan, Edward, and William Hamilton.

She is survived by her husband, Jack D. Phillips; son, James E. Phillips (Patricia); sisters Jessie Carlson and Arlene Carle; brother Matthew Carle, sister-in-law Bonnie Grant; brother-in-law George Phillips; daughters Joanna Glendenning (Stuart), Maura O’Brien Phillips, Penney Phillips, Debbie Reeder (Fred), grandsons James Phillips (Kyla), Jordan Phillips (Mercedes), Frederick Phillips (Shari), Carl Phillips, Jeb Phillips (Angela Bertagnoli), Aaron Phillips (Carolyn Kvernvik); grand daughter Crystal Stoner:; and five great-granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews.

In honoring Nancy’s wishes there will be no formal services. The family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to a favorite charity.