Phyllis Jean Main

Phyllis Jean Main

Born November 23, 1929 – Died July 30, 2026

North Dakota farm girl, devoted registered nurse, committed pastor’s wife, beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, cherished friend and neighbor, Mom was all of these and more. Her son Bruce called her a stoic, and that was certainly true. She spent the last 6 years of her life in pain but rarely complained and quietly modified her behavior to accommodate her physical challenges.

Mom was born in rural North Dakota to Phillip and Ruth Stolberg at the beginning of the depression and grew up on their small, isolated farm. Her identical twin, Ruth, was her constant companion. She had 3 brothers, two older and one younger. There was always lots of work to do as well as opportunities for fun. This created a lifelong aversion to idle hands so her free time was full of knitting, puzzles and games, and her beloved books.

Mom had always wanted to be a nurse, removing her dad’s stiches when she was only 12 so he didn’t have to make the day long trip to town to have them removed. She pursued her career as a registered nurse in hospitals and clinics in many states, finding home in the healing profession.

After only 5 months of courtship, Mom married Dad (Carl Main) on Memorial Day in 1952! Dad was a pastor, and kept our family moving every couple of years to a new church. Getting used to a new home, a new job, and new neighbors and surroundings was hard for Mom. When we finally moved to the Seattle area in 1968, she found that Washington was her forever home. The Midwest, North Dakota, California, and Texas were distant memories.

After years of encouragement (pressure?) from their eldest daughter, in 2011 Mom and Dad moved from the Seattle area to uptown Port Townsend, becoming members of the First Baptist church, and getting to know their new hometown. They were welcomed warmly by their family, their neighbors, their church, and new friends throughout the community. Mom loved walking to the farmer’s market, the senior center, her church, and the library. She enjoying starting conversations with neighbors and strangers, complimenting them on their yard or their pet or their outfit.

A voracious reader, a committed believer, an avid news hound, Mom was a lifelong learner. She started piano lessons in her 50s so she could improve her skill at playing. She loved volunteering with her women’s church group, the Shady Ladies. She stayed engaged with the world around her, casting her ballot a week before she died and relishing visits from friends, and caregivers, and most especially her great-grandkids.

She has now achieved her final goal, leaving this life to join her beloved twin sister, son, brothers, Mother and Father, husband, and so many other loved ones who are now celebrating a fabulous, final, family reunion! She will always be missed by her devoted family who are supremely grateful her lifelong faith and love of family. The family commends the care she received from staff at Jefferson hospice and Cogir Senior Living.

Her Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday August 29th at 1pm at First Baptist Church of Port Townsend. All are welcome. Please visit www.bradley-kosec.com to share memories with the family. Memorial gifts are welcomed by Shady Ladies at Port Townsend First Baptist Church or Roots Haiti.