Philip Bryan Obituary

PHILIP M. BRYAN JR.
March 9, 1948 ˜ December 4, 2020

Phil Bryan, husband, father, brother, Papa and friend to so many, passed away Dec. 4, 2020, after a courageous battle with COVID-19. Phil was born March 9, 1948, in Lexington, SC, to Philip and Sara Nell Bryan. Phil dearly loved his southern roots.
He graduated from Lexington High School in 1966 and joined the Navy in 1967. While stationed in Bremerton, WA, Phil came home one weekend with a Navy buddy and met Steve’s sister, Marcia Gibson. When they returned to the base that weekend, Phil told Steve, “I’m going to marry your sister.” True to his word, Phil and Marcia were married Aug. 14, 1970.
Once out of the Navy, Phil and Marcia settled in Vancouver, WA, where they went to college, built their home and raised their three children.
Phil attended the Clark College machinist program and spent many years working in the area as a welder and fabrication specialist. He then spent the last seven years of his career working as a TSA agent at PDX.
Everyone will remember Phil best for his love of friends and family and great backyard BBQs and turkey fries.
In later years, traveling was one of Phil’s greatest joys. The Caribbean Islands and Mexico’s Soliman Bay were special times but he always said his favorite trip was a three-week tour of Ireland in 2018, which was the making of so many memories and new friends. Sadly, a month-long trip to Europe was canceled this year due to COVID-19.
Phil is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcia; son, Philip M. Bryan; daughters, Alissa (Christopher) Scheller and Stephanie Bryan (Will Chezem); seven grandchildren, Traci, Michael, Marcia-Joan, Jared, Logan, Cole and Liam; and three great-grandchildren who will all miss their Lego building “Papa Phil” terribly. He is also survived by his brother, Jeffrey (Jennifer) Bryan of West Monroe, LA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Linda Bryan Faller.
A celebration of life is being planned for a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. If so inclined, the family is encouraging donations in Phil’s memory be made to Gales Creek Camp Foundation for Children with Diabetes (galescreekcamp.org) or to the charity of your choice.
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