On March 24, 1986 at 3:24 in the afternoon our family celebrated the birth of Nicholas James Phillips in Bellevue, Wash. Nicholas was born with a chromosome disorder. He was medically fragile and faced many special needs throughout his life, but it was all taken in stride with the attitude that his disabilities were going to teach us new abilities. With a life expectancy given to us of six months to one year, life was a roller coaster in the beginning and then became the new normal to which we, his family, proudly adapted.

He taught us all to be patient, that plans change, and to rise with the tide and go with the flow, and the ability to multitask every day.

Nicholas never played youth soccer and he never played high school football. But he did go to school in the special education division at the local public schools. He always had recess in the early years and lunch in his high school years with the regular kids, and was well accepted and liked. While he didn't play sports, ok he did one year on the special education bowling team, he taught everyone who met him something. Perhaps something about themselves, something about compassion, something about being included or something about being ok to be different.

Nicholas loved camping and visited Yellowstone National Park - twice, Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower (from Close Encounters of the Third Kind) and the Field of Dreams and numerous other states, as far east as Illinois. He loved the ocean. He even went to Reno, Nevada once! He flew on a plane, camped in a tent trailer, sat by rivers and watched them flow by. He loved attending Mariners games and country music (CMT) on the television.

His main goal in life was playing, and playing, with two special toys. Those toys became hard to find and Ebay.com became our best friend! He put holes into his bedroom sheet rock with those toys. We discussed that he could be a durability tester from some large A list company, or perhaps break into home demolition. His progress might have been slow, but it would have been complete.

He was the loving son of Michael and Teresa Phillips; brother to April Phillips (Jamey Williams) and uncle to Benjamin Grant. Other family includes aunt Marcia Chinnick (Andrew Walters), Elma, Wash .; uncles Nigel Chinnick, Kent, Wash., and Rodney Chinnick (Lori), Covington, Wash .; grandfather Ronald Chinnick, Ocean Shores, Wash .; and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents Howard and Betty Phillips, his maternal grandmother Joyce Chinnick and his uncle Marty Phillips.

On January 22, 2018, he peacefully passed away. 31 years, 9 months and 29 days was one hell of a run dude. We will miss you and you will forever be in our hearts and minds. The house is so quiet without you in it and our lives will be so different, but we wouldn't trade that time for anything.

Special thanks to the CFVH emergency room team, especially those that stayed beyond their shift change that made Nicholas' passing so much easier, we wish we could remember all your names.

In lieu of flowers we request that donations be made in memory of Nicholas to the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation, c/o Barry Fowler, PO Box 768 Plains, MT 59859.

Funeral arrangements to be made with Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Wayne and Mary Egbert, who we thank for their long-standing friendship and service.