Lola L (Fiddler) Phillips

Lola Lauretta Phillips was born in Yreka, CA on July 5th, 1936, to Mervin Arthur and Georgia Lucille (McCormick) Fiddler. On the evening of July 14th, 2021, she passed away at the age of 85 in Hermiston, Oregon.
 
Lola married Theodore Todd on October 19th,1953 in San Francisco, CA at the age of 17 and they began residing in Long Beach, CA where Theodore was Stationed in the U.S. Navy. They started their family on May 18th, 1954, with the birth of their son Richard Lee Todd. They would move back to Yreka, CA and they would find out they were expecting their second child, but sadly Theodore would pass away on January 1st, 1956, in a tragic accident, three months before the birth of their daughter Elaina Marie Todd on March 12th, 1956.
 
Lola would find love again and marry Charles Lee Phillips on March 24th, 1959, in Yreka, CA. They would enlarge their family with five more children. Gary, Shawn, Lynn, Reba and Michael. They resided in Yreka for a few years and then moved to Reno and Fallon, NV when all the kids were little. Lola began working in various Casinos as a Blackjack dealer. In the early 70's they moved to Stockton, CA and resided there until the early 90's. When they sold their house and moved to Irrigon, OR to be closer to their family.
 
They lived and ran the Last Chance Fruit stand and met lots of people from near and far. Lola loved running the fruit stand and socializing with her regulars. They resided there until 1997 when Lola's mom fell ill, and they wanted to be closer to her. After Lucille passed away in January of 1998. They moved into the family home During their time there they began breeding and raising Boston Terriers. They had Sky girl and Bo Jangles and then Terra Chi came along. They had many litters of puppies and enjoyed them all. 
 
They remained in Yreka until the fall of 2006 when Charles health declined, and they made the decision to move back to Irrigon to live with their son Shawn and his family. On June 6th, 2007, Lola's beloved husband would pass away after 48 years of marriage.
 
Later that Fall for the first time in her life at the age of 71yrs Lola decided she wanted to experience living by herself. She enjoyed her peace and quiet with her own routines for nearly 10 years with her loyal companion "doodle bug". That is until her body became weaker, and she required a walker and further assistance with her daily routines. Lola and her son Shawn decided it was time to move her back in with us. Until her health required more assistance than the family could do. Lola began residing at Regency in 2019 and was there until she passed away.
 
Lola loved music and dancing. This was said from a young age how much she loved it. She went to several dances growing up and even when her kids were young, she took them too. Her kids would often say" that's where they learned to dance was at sock hops mom took them to". Besides dancing there was not a musical she would not or had not watched. She also loved playing Pinochle with her family as well as other games later in life. Everybody that knew Lola said she was feisty and had a stubborn streak to know end. That the saying is true "What Lola wants Lola gets" She had a laugh that would light up a room. 
 
Lola was also a very devote Jehovah Witness and belonged to the Kingdom Hall in Yreka, CA and Hermiston, OR and going out into service with her brothers and sisters brought her much joy. Her faith never wavered and in her final days this brought much comfort to her with prayers between her brother Jerry and her as well as members of her congregation that visited with her.
 
You can be at peace now and be free. Just know that you will always be with us wherever we go because we love you so much and we will miss you forever. 
 
Lola was preceded in death by her parents Mervin and Georgia Fiddler, first husband Theodore Todd, daughter Elaina Buenrostro, daughter Reba Coleman, second husband Charles Phillips, son Richard Todd and daughter in law Judith Phillips, as well as so many, many dear friends.
 
She is survived by her brother Jerry (Sue) Fiddler of Yreka, CA, son Gary (Linda) Jones of Pendleton, OR, son Shawn (Jennifer) Phillips of Irrigon, OR, son Lynn Phillips of Yreka, CA, Michael (Bertha) Phillips of Yreka, CA, son in laws Jon Coleman of Council Bluffs, IA and Rick Buenrostro of Stockton, CA and daughter in law Rita Todd of Greenville, TX. She has 19 Grandchildren,27 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, Hermiston, Oregon.
Please share memories of Lola with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.

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