Angeline Audrey Phillips

Angeline Audrey Phillips

Angeline (“Angie”) was born August 28, 1961, in Toppenish, WA. She grew up as the youngest child of Lena Meninick Phillips “KeeKeetKoom” and Andrew “Andy” Phillips “Wethltoonsh.”

Her family was made up of many brothers and sisters Augustine, Orval, Harriet, Isabelle, Clifford, Austin, Jasper, Joanne, Anthony, Otis, Archie, Elliot, Ronnie, Davis, and Arlen.

Her paternal grandparents are Jennie Charles Phillips and Benedict Phillips. Her maternal grandparents are Maggie Syyou and Jasper Meninick.

She enjoyed her time with her Phillips grandparents on the Ahtanum with her horse Barbara Ann Susie-Q Phillips. She knew where all the rattlesnakes were and that they wouldn’t bother her. With all her adventures up there, she knew where the best fishing spots were and where to hunt muskrats.

She was blessed with many aunts and uncles, including Antoine Phillips, Mathew Sappallel Phillips, Ida Sappallel Senator, Earl Phillips, Leonard Tomaskin, Hazel Watlamet, Raymond Watlamet, Joe Meninick, Josephine George, Sadie (Cloud) and Lespie Heemsah, Raymond and Helen Totus, Matilda and David Allen.

Growing up as an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, she embraced her heritage and all the blessings Creator provided. Her days were energized by R&B, country and rock-n-roll. Native American Church Music was her study guide for life. The music that motivated her was powwow. During POWWOS season, she would inhale all that she could so that her spirit remained full until the next season when she was able to do it all over again.

As a crafter, she enjoyed beading with her mother’s spirit and creating quilts from scrap. As a gatherer she searched the boundaries off and on her reservation, looking for the best root digging places, best berry fields and the where to find the best medicines. She was well known for her medicinal gathering knowledge handed down to her from her mother and then passed down to her oldest daughter.

Her life’s work was devoted to her community. She served the Yakama Nation in many roles over her lifetime – devoting over 25 years to its service.

She began in 1980 with the WIA program with Phil Lacourse, whom she spoke of often to her children. After that, she was a waitress at the Heritage Restaurant where her mother would bring her children to eat lunch while she was working. She briefly worked in Purchasing, then she transitioned to Head Start from 2000-2005. She also served the Yakama Nation Domestic Violence Program as a Domestic Violence counselor. Her longest time with Yakama Nation was from 2012 until her retirement in 2025, with Yakama Nation Probation, as its Program Manager.

Working for the Yakama Nation was not the only way she gave back to her community. She served as a teacher’s assistant for 9 years for the Granger School District. During this time, she served as its Native American Club Advisor and coached the Spartan volleyball team. She also served 8 years in the Mount Adams School District as a teacher’s assistant at Harrah Elementary.

She was a member of many organizations – the Washington State Indian Education, Heritage College Indian Club, Yakima Valley Home Visitors Organization, Granger Indian Education Parent Committee, Yakama Nation Higher Education Scholar, Satus Shaker Church member, and a member of the Native American Church’s Mount Adams Chapter. She also served as an executive Board Member for the Statewide Poverty Action Network.

While working at Yakama Nation Head Start, her passion for social work became even deeper. With that in her heart she went back to get her Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Heritage University – earning the Dean’s list as a working mother and active member of her community.

Her greatest gift in life was her family. She embraced all her family with her whole being. She stepped into many roles within her family – Daughter, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Kathla, Ullah and widely respected Matriarch.

As mother to Aulena, Kevin, and Alyssa, she loved them in the traditional way. She let them learn by experiencing life and being themselves. She taught them how to protect themselves so that when the day came that they were independent they would carry on the virtues of all the generations that came before her. She instilled in them a heart for their family, nature, and Creator. This carried on with her grandchildren who lit up her life. She loved them as only Kathla could.

Angie adopted many as her children, and their children as her grandchildren as well. Her adopted son, Andrew (Mallory) George, best friend and brother to Kevin, and his children, held a special place in her heart.

Some advice she leaves us with from her father, “Don’t fret, get up, get back on again, and to hell with the rest of ‘em!” From her mother, “Work hard, don’t be lazy, do all that you can do from morning to night, you will be glad that you worked hard in the long run.”

Her parents, Andy and Lena, her paternal grandparents, Benedict and Jennie Phillips, her maternal grandparents, Jasper Meninick and Maggie Syyou, her aunts and uncles, Antoine Phillips, Mathew Sappallel Phillips, Ida Sappallel Senator, Earl Phillips, Austin Phillips, Leonard Tomaskin Sr., Hazel Watlamet, Raymond Watlamet, Joe Meninick, Josephine George, Raymond and Helen Totus, Matilda and David Allen, her siblings, Augustine (Larry) Phillips Howard, Orval Phillips, Harriet (Leon) Strom, Isabelle (Gene) Yallup, Clifford (Judy) Casseseka, Austin Bennie Phillips, Jasper Washines, Joanne Phillips Walker, Ottis Moses Phillips, Elliot Jan Phillips, Ernie Washines and Davis Edward Washines, her son, Austin Henry Phillips, her sisters, Deanna Jim Juarez, Theresa Washines, and Lucille Geary, her nephews, Rommel Strom, Jeffery Strom and Antone Honanie, nieces, DeeDee Walker, Julene George, LaDawn Yallup and Isha Wyman, her granddaughters Cari Loren Tewee and Jaleesa Van Pelt, are among those that preceded Angeline Phillips in death.

The Greatest Loves of her Life, her children, Aulena (Austin), Kevin and Alyssa, her grandchildren, Kayawana, Jordan, Wilson, Eliza, Ahtanum and Dallas, as well as Charles and Skiye, Lonnie (Stella), Savannah (Tommy), Mikey, and Anna, her brothers, Anthony (Myrna) Washines, Archie (Stella) Washines, Ronnie (Bonnie) Washines and Edward Arlen Washines, her sisters, Jenny Lou (Maynard) Honanie, Doris Peters and Tina Allen; Mikki, Steven Tyler, Jonet and Josiah; Shawn and Lenny; Sonda (Bill); Windcloud, Whirlwind, Devon, Aric; Randi-Raeni (Rick); Domina, Chase; Brandon, Emily, and Elese; Ronna, Dayel, Maggie, Brian, and RC; Winona, Asa, and Andrew; Wah-Leah, John and Jessica, Stephanie, Maynard, Danielle, Chad, Glenda (Kacy), Jimmie (Glenna), Lianna, Leandro, Maceo, Ma-Lena, Eagle, Ira, Luke, Donovan, Jayden, Ashlynn, Quinn, Tania, Huli, Xilanii, Timnayi, Alice, Zora, Jared, Alexa, Carmen, Quinn, Isabella, Sheena, Tasha, Brittany, Elijah, Anna, Cameron, Steven Tyler, Percy, Jasper, Leveyah, Isiah, Jax, Matthew, Kayce, Tate, Rick, Dayleen, Ismael, Abel, Aubrey, Harley, Pearl, Stellan (Isha), Kayden, D’Lontae, Hunter, Rommel, Colter, Raven Van Pelt, Skyler Metsker, Travis Van Pelt, Jordan Bass, Rudy Bass, Mase, Maverick, Ava, and Alivia George, Amber and Stella, her many and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and grandchildren that she loved wholeheartedly, all survive Angeline Audrey Phillips.

Angie’s faith in Creator was greater than one religion – she followed Creator in the Indian Shaker, Native American Church and Wa’ashat faiths. Her wishes to follow all three were honored by her children during her funeral services.

Her Traditional Dressing Service was held on Friday, July 17, 2026, followed with a viewing in the 1910 Satus Shaker Church. A Wa’ashat Service was held following the viewing on the church’s patio. Overnight Shaker Service began at 7 pm. A Native American Church Devotional was held on the patio at sunset. Final Shaker Service started at 4 a.m., and she was laid to rest in the Smohalla (Satus Point) Cemetery, and near her mother, Lena, at sunrise Saturday July 18.

Satus Shaker Church Assistant Minister Jimmie Tyler was the lead officiant. Jerry Meninick and Gerald Lewis were Wa’ashat service officiants. John Washines was Native American Church service officiant. Irma Totus, and Angeline’s oldest daughter, Aulena took care of her dressing service/caretakers.

Pallbearers were Kevin Phillips, Jordan Ashue, Austin Carl, Windcloud Washines, Whirlwind Washines, Michael “Mikey” Allen, Shawn Van Pelt, and Lenny Van Pelt.

Honorary Pallbearers were Yakama Nation Probation, Satus Shaker Church, Native American Church Mount Adams Chapter, Satus Shaker Church Youth Group, Mount Adams School District, Granger School District, and Yakama Nation Head Start.

Her children ask to respect our traditional ways and put away her photos and not use her name, until the one year is done. She has earned her rest.