Michael J. Phyillaier, Sr., 77

August 13, 2024

Michael James Phyillaier Sr. passed away on 14 August 2024 in Lititz, PA, at the age of 78. Up until about five years ago he led an active life in Oregon and Idaho riding his motorcycle and traveling around the high country with his friends. Then Parkinson’s took its toll on him.

He is survived by his daughter, Mishel, age 57, son, Michael Jr, age 56, 2 grandchildren, and his brothers, Steve and John and sisters, Dana, Donna, Lorraine, Mary and Patricia and his ex-wife, Ruth Creek. His first wife, Mary Lee, mother of his two children predeceased him on 5 June 1995.

He worked longest as a master auto mechanic in the San Francisco Bay area and if it was mechanical he could fix it. He raised his children in California until Mary Lee passed. He then relocated to Montana, landing a job as a disability claims agent for the state of Montana for 10+ years before retiring to travel, ride his motorcycle and fish more often.

He loved fishing and the great outdoors and spent many of his days enjoying the scenery of many Western states. He was able to visit and spend time in every state of our great nation and even rode up the Canadian coast to Alaska. He was a scuba diver and abalone diver and loved camping and fishing up and down the California and Oregon coastlines. He loved bald eagles, Harley Davidson motorcycles and was a lifelong motorcycle rider, often spending each weekend making Poker runs with the local biker clubs.

He loved westerns and was always reading Louis L’Amour and other books about the west and WWII. And he loved reading the Bible and listening to Gospel music – as he loved to sing and had a great singing voice. He’s now home with Jesus, pain free and waiting for the great reunion.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to either The Assistance Fund via tafcares.org or to Millersville Brethren in Christ church via millersvillbic.org, thank you. The Assistance Fund helps those who can’t pay for medication for diseases like Parkinson’s. Millersville BIC welcomed Michael when he moved from Oregon to Pennsylvania four years ago.