Yvonne Marie Giffra Phillips was born on August 12, 1940 and passed away July 5, 2015. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Yvonne was the youngest daughter of Frank and Gertrude Giffra. She had an older sister, Francis Loflin. Yvonne married her high school sweetheart, Richard Phillips, in 1961. They shared 54 wonderful years together. Yvonne is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Gertrude Giffra; her in-laws, Lee Cester and Ethel Phillips; sister-in-law, Betty Clinton; sister-in-law, Lorene Billington; brother-in-law, Tom Phillips; brother-in-law, Gordon Loflin; and brother-in-law, Harry Phillips. Yvonne grew up in the Old River community. She attended Lakeside Elementary and Bakersfield High School. After graduating in 1958, Yvonne attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and graduated from Fresno State Extension with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Yvonne taught school for 38 years. Yvonne had many creative talents she used and shared with her friends and family. Beautiful pieces of her embroidery are displayed throughout her home. Yvonne was an accomplished cook. She prepared countless delicious meals for many close friend and family over the years. She always made her home warm and inviting. Yvonne worked very hard to help Richard with their pig farm. Yvonne and her sister, Francis, cared for their mother, Gertrude, for several years as her health declined. Yvonne and Richard enjoyed traveling to Salt Lake to see their daughter Jeanne’s family. Yvonne sent many boxes of presents to her grandchildren and great-granddaughter. She always looked forward to their visits to Bakersfield. Yvonne always had pictures of her grandchildren and great granddaughter to share with everyone. Yvonne and Richard were very enthusiastic to escape the summer heat of Bakersfield and spent five months every year in Trinidad, California. They spent 15 summers vacationing near Patrick’s Point State Park. Living so near the beach and in the shadows of the coastal redwoods was a heavenly retreat. Richard enjoyed fishing while Yvonne loved shopping and playing bingo. Yvonne was a very fashionably dressed woman. She always had her nails polished with a bright, sparking red and her curly, silver hair was very pretty. She loved solving crossword puzzles and watching TV westerns line “Gunsmoke” and “Bonanza”. Yvonne was a very thoughtful person. She dearly loved her family and friends. Yvonne will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband, Richard; daughter, Jeanne Simpson; son-in-law, Harold; grandson, Jordan; granddaughter, Jackie; great-granddaughter, RayAnne; her sister, Francis; sister and brother-in-law; Paul and Verna Mangold; sister-in-law, Kay Hardt; sister-in-law, Jeanne Phillips; and many nieces and nephews. Yvonne’s graveside funeral service will be held Monday, July 13, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the West Side District Cemetery, 440 E. Cedar Street, Taft, California. A reception will also be held afterwards at Willow Ranch Restaurant.
Information provided by Erickson & Brown Funeral Home