Phyllis Alice Hartsoch, 98

Phyllis Alice Hartsoch, 98, (also known as Grandma), died July 13, 2017, at the home she shared with her daughter Donna Rae and Jim Bruner after selling her home in Bay City, Washington. Her family was with her during her painless “trip to meet the Lord.”

Phyllis was born Feb. 18, 1919, to Clyde Doyle and Edna (Kuchel) Doyle in Holstein, Iowa. She was the first of six children. The Doyle family moved to Kalispell in 1936. That is where she met the man of her dreams Milton F. Hartsoch, known as Mel; they married July 3, 1937. Together they worked from farming to logging, whatever it took. She helped with her family’s restaurant, and what a good cook she was.

Their first-born child was Donna Rae Hartsoch, born Jan. 16, 1939; after a short time, off they went to work again driving her dump truck with baby bed fixed next to her. She was a mother trucker, Mel would call her. They even helped her mother raise her brothers and sisters. Their son Jack Doyle Hartsoch was born April 15,1941. When the children were ready to travel off they went. The traveling bug hit again, working from Montana to Oregon, Idaho, Washington and even Alaska (before it was a state), building roads, as Mel was in construction business now. They moved back to Washington to own partnership with their son on an oyster farm (Phyllis got her hands into it too). They grew oysters at Dabob Bay in Quilcene, Washington, and trucked them to Cali-fornia. Later selling that business, they moved to Bay City near their son. They bought property and had a home put on it in 1971 and found themselves back in the oyster business at Bay City (for something to do).They had the first license in the county for oysters.

Phyllis retired as Mel did, playing and gardening and growing flowers. Mel passed in 1984.

Phyllis lived for her wonderful family.

Phyllis is survived by daughter Donna Rae (Jim) Bruner of Aberdeen, Washington; daughter-in-law Theresa Hartsoch of Bay City; Jackie Hartsoch and Mike Szynder of Wareham, Massachusetts; Kim (Marty) Skinner of Hoquiam, Washington; Scott D. Hartsoch of Olympia, Washington, Patrick M. Wison of Packwood, Washington; siblings, Karen (Scott) Cottet, Mary Doyle of Pendleton, Oregon, Willis Doyle of Fargo, North Dakota, Don Doyle of Kalispell, Joe Kucere of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and one very special friend.

There will be no services. Please, no flowers.

Donations are suggested to the Westport South Beach Ambulance or the Cancer Clinic.

Arrangements are entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary of Aberdeen.