Iris Renea Phillips

Iris Renea Phillips was born on April 24th, 1941, to Evan and Evelyn Mecham. She was 5th of 12 siblings. Her first home was in Driggs Idaho. When Iris was about a year old the family moved to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation where they lived until she was 8 years old. The family then moved across the river to Bingham County close to Riverton Idaho. Iris recalled that this was the first home they had with indoor plumbing and electricity. When Iris was 15 years old the family moved again to Springfield Idaho. Iris had many wonderful memories of this time in her life and mentioned more than once that this was the happiest place of her childhood. Iris would reminisce of the farm they had there and of many youth church parties they attended and really enjoyed.

Iris went to Aberdeen High school for the last 2 years of her education. She mentioned she was the only one of her siblings that did not graduate from Blackfoot High. After High School she went to work for First Security Bank in Blackfoot Idaho. She worked there for the next 5 years. While working there she met her husband, Joe Phillips. They were married on August 10th, 1963. Mom mentioned that Dad would sing to her during their courtship and when they were first married. They had 5 children, 4 boys and then mom finally got her baby girl.

In 1967 they moved to Yakima Washington where they continued to grow their family and Joe continued to work in the banking business.

In 1971 the family moved to Coos Bay Oregon where they lived for a short time until they move in 1972 to Baker Oregon and then in 1974 moved to Klamath Falls Oregon where the family lived for the next 10 years. The family then moved to Lakeview Oregon for a short time and then in 1985 they moved to Medford Oregon. Where they stayed until Iris moved back to Klamath Falls in 2011 where she lived until her death.

One of her favorite places to live in her adult years was Medford Oregon. She loved the people and the weather in that area. She had a cherry and peach tree there that she loved to eat the fruit from.

Iris worked in several different jobs during her life. One of her favorite jobs was selling Avon. She also worked for JC Penny’s, and several different banks. Iris last job was working with the elderly until she retired. She loved doing that and loved the people she cared for.

Iris was preceded in death by Her Parents, Evan and Evelyn Mecham, Sisters Lola, Erma, and Rhea. Brothers, Leon and Norman Mecham and by her Husband Joe Phillips.

She is survived by her Sisters Deola Matsura, Nelda Cowley ( spouce Bruce) and Vicki Mecham. Brothers Dennis (spouce Peggy), Von (spouce Kaylen) and Reed (wife Marsha), her Children, Kip (wife Brenda), Kevin, Kelly (spouce Jill), Kasey, and Kathy Maxwell and their many family members including 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Iris had many wonderful life-long friends that they would visit each other often and in later years visit by phone. One of the delights of he life is having family parties. When she was at family parties it would be unusual if there wasn’t a game or rook going on. She loved the family parties and loved being with family and friends. A few years ago Iris was able to spend a few weeks in Idaho visiting family. She talked about that visit often and was very grateful for all those who made it possible for her to make that trip.

Iris loved Christmas and everything that goes with it including having lots of decorations, food, and family around. As her children got older and started homes of their own, she loved the tradition of having Christmas Eve at her home. We would gather on Christmas Eve, have wonderful food, simple gifts were shared. Just last December for our traditional Christmas Eve get together we decided to have a white elephant gift exchange; it was very memorable. everyone ended up with one of Iris’s old purses, some of them were in pretty good shape. Mom loved baking for Christmas and any other holiday. She loved to make donuts, cookies, cakes, and pies as well as normal meals. Whenever there was a get together, she would make sue there was food available.

Iris loved to have a garden and was never afraid of the demanding work it took to raise one. She loved to have trees wherever she lived and was always planting trees, any kind of tree, but preferred fruit trees.

Iris loved being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was always striving to live its teachings. She had a strong testimony of the Gospel. She loved to serve in the church and had many different callings including serving in a Primary presidency, Cub Scout leader, primary teacher, and visiting teacher. She loved attending the temple and appreciated the ordinances, covenants and promised blessings of the Temple.

Iris loved family, she loved when she would get to see her children, and their families. She was always talking about her kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and siblings and thier families. She could never get enough of them and is immensely proud of them all.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and friend. She taught her children many lessons of life and will continue to be an inspiration to all who knew her.

She loves and has a testimony of our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ and shared many spiritual experiences with her family. For the last few years, she would express her desire to pass through the veil and then at other times she would express that she would like to live many more years on this earth. She will be missed.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley. The family will meet with friends Saturday morning from 10:00 till 10:45 A.M. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Riverview Cemetery in Firth.

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