Longtime Juneau resident Rose Phillips died Oct. 3, 1999, at her home in Juneau.
She was born in 1916 in Yoncalla, Ore., to Myrtle and Sam Carter. She came to Alaska in 1931 on the SS Zapora to join her mother and step father at Game Creek near Hoonah. In 1932 she married Seburn Lee (Bill) Posey, and they had one child, Ruth. She was widowed in 1934.
She leased Halibut Island in Icy Strait and became one of the early pioneers in the fox farming business. In 1935 she married John Makinen, who was raising foxes on a nearby island. They had three children, Jack, Nancy and Myrtle. The family moved to Juneau so the children could attend school. John died a few years later and was buried in Hoonah.
In 1945 she married Dave Simonson. He had one son, Aaron, and they had a son together, David. She was again widowed in 1966. She married Jim Phillips in 1971 and they resided at their waterfront home at Tee Harbor. She enjoyed fishing, crocheting, embroidery and her flower garden.
She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Judy Kay Simonson in 1974 and by her sons John Makinen and Aaron Simonson.
She is survived by her husband, Jim Phillips of Juneau, daughters Ruth Saviers of Juneau, Nancy Shelley of Oregon, Myrtle Martinsen of Canada, son David Simonson of Juneau, 14 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. A celebration of her life will follow the services at the Savier home at 2556 Engineer's Cutoff.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Juneau, 3200 Hospital Drive, Suite 100, Juneau, 99801.
Source: Juneau Empire, Juneau, Alaska, Monday, October 4, 1999
