Myrn Kinnear Philbrick

July 15, 1919 – October 24, 2013

Myrn Kinnear, born in Seattle, WA to Roy Kinnear and Zephorina Myrn Kinnear on July 15,1919 grew up on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. Her family moved to Broadmoor when she was 12 years old and she attended St. Nicholas School, Garfield High School and the University of Washington.

Myrn passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 24th at Covenant Shores on Mercer Island. She was preceded in death by her husband Dick (Dr. Richard Clayton) Philbrick (2000), and their son, Rick Philbrick (1991). A longtime Mercer Islander, she was mother of Rick, Gary, and Rob (all MIHS graduates), an esteemed member of many organizations, a gourmet hostess, and a seasoned world traveler.

Always a good sport, Myrn joined her family in a lifetime of adventures: flying to Hawaii in DC6 4-engine prop planes during the early 1950’s, running the Rio Grijalva River of Mexico in rubber rafts in the 1960’s, building a sod-roofed home on Friday Island, sailing the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest coast aboard Sea Fever, and trailoring two boats, Kiyi and Wosoki, across the United States to explore the Great Lakes, the North American coasts, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.

Myrn loved college dances at the Olympic Hotel, Friday Island weekends, family gatherings, new friendships, and displaying her collections of handcrafts and antiques from around the world. She enjoyed telling stories of her Grandfather Kinnear going bear hunting from Queen Anne Hill all the way to the dense forests of Madison Park. Her Grandfather Captain George Kinnear, a retired Civil War Captain, was tapped to protect the Chinese during Seattle riots of the late 1800’s. Her other Grandfather, Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove, was elected Governor of the State of Washington in 1909.

With her elegant presence, Myrn participated in her “Greenhorn” Arboretum Unit founded in 1946, her Dr. Charles B. Ford Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital, the Seattle Yacht Club, the YWCA Board, the Sunset Club, the Garfield Golden Grads, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Mercer Island.

Most of all, though, she loved her family – Her oldest son Rick, his widow Christine, daughter Kelly (Leif), and son Rick (Sara); Her middle son Gary, his wife Theresa, son Ryan (Krista), daughter Morgan (Bray); Her youngest son Rob, his wife Margaret, daughter Sandy (Jason), daughter Carrie, and son Robbie, Jr.; and many great- grandchildren. Several members of her family continue to live on Mercer Island.

A Memorial Service will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave. S.E., Mercer Island on Friday, December 6, 2013 at 2:00pm. A donation in her name may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church Memorials or any organization of your choice.