Obituary

Lucille Marilynn Phair Spencer, traditional name “Eso’lic,” age
75, of Lummi Nation, passed away January 29, 2024. Luci was
born October 18, 1948. Luci was baptized in Latter-Day Saints
church while attending high school. She was sent to the Latter
Day Saints student placement program with a Mormon church
family in Utah.

She completed high school in Utah, then continued her
education at Brigham University in Utah receiving her BA degree.
Upon returning home, she began working for the Lummi Social
Services program and participated in an internship that prepared
her to enter Antioch University, where she completed her master’s
degree in social work.

She then went on to work for the Washington State Indian Unit
in Yakama and stayed there for 15 years. She then transferred
back to Bellingham DSHS in the Children Indian Unit. She had
numerous other jobs including grant writing, high school teacher,
and worked a furniture factory. Luci worked tirelessly to protect
tribal families, to keep their children safe at all costs. She worked
her final years with the Mt. Vernon Indian Unit until retirement.
She was honored for all her dedication to protect Indian children
from getting lost in the system.

After her retirement, she began doing the craft of sewing and
making beautiful items to share with her friends and relatives.
She was one that was truly gifted with many traditional ways
that she shared with friends and family. Luci loved traditional
foods, gathering berries and enjoyed baking pies. Luci was the
matriarch of her family and will be remembered for her kindness,
and beautiful smile. She will be dearly missed and will live on in
our hearts and memories.

Luci is survived by son Maurice Allen Phair, siblings Clarence,
Sheila, Diane, and Cynthia Phair, and numerous grandchildren,
nieces and nephews. She is proceeded in death by her husband
Richard “Butch” Spencer, parents Rosemary Scott Phair and
Sidney Charles Phair Sr., siblings Sydney, Gerald, Wanda, and
Marcy Phair.