Heather Lynn Phillips unexpectedly passed away on Friday, January 24, 2025, after a long battle with angiosarcoma. She was 51.

Heather was born to Richard and Diana Phillips in Arcata, CA, on August 31, 1973. Heather was the joy of her parents’ lives, and she spent her childhood and early adulthood with them in Arcata, attending Jacoby Creek School until eighth grade and Arcata High School. She graduated from Arcata High in 1991 and worked various jobs – Hallmark and local Humboldt radio stations (KINS, KEKA, KWSW) – before moving to Chico to attend college. She graduated from CSU Chico in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, received her teaching credential the following year, and quickly entered the teaching profession. She spent over two decades working with children in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, most recently as a 7th and 8th-grade teacher at the Virtual Academy of Fairfield-Suisun, where she taught all subjects but primarily focused on math and English. Heather was an exceptional educator, deeply committed to her students and fellow teachers, and was always ready to help, support, and inspire. She shared her love for crafting with her students, teaching those interested how to knit and gifting them her hand-knitted goods - some of which are still worn today.

Aside from teaching and crafting, Heather loved many things: hunting for and restoring vintage furniture with her dad, sipping coffee by a warm fire, the smell of fresh rain, the transition of summer to autumn, nerding out to her favorite shows and movies (Game of Thrones & Harry Potter among them), gently correcting people’s grammar, and, in recent years, collecting and caring for plants. Above all, she loved her fur babies - Harley, Clark, Lily, Olive, and Cleo - her family, friends, and partner of nearly a decade, Paul Dickinson.

Heather was an intelligent, fun, bright light in this world. She had a dark, witty, and unparalleled sense of humor and could find humor even in life’s most challenging moments - often summarizing events in what she called the “Heather Chronicles.” She had a knack for delivering the perfect deadpan one-liner, making even the most mundane moments feel like part of an inside joke. She spent hours laughing with her cousins when they gathered for the holidays, feeding off the loud, joyful energy in the room. Friends and family from all phases of her life will miss her infectious laugh, bright smile, strength, and fierce love. Even on her most difficult days, she found ways to uplift herself and those around her with laughter.

Heather was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and uncles - David, Clyde, and Jim. She is survived by her Aunt Linda and Uncle Stan, Aunt Connie, Aunt Angie, Uncle George, and Aunt Margie; her cousins Lisa, Vivian, Nicole, Kristina, Jessica, Sarah, Brent, Stephani, Alyison, and Raina, along with their families; her partner, Paul; her beloved dogs, Cleo and Olive; and numerous cherished friends.

Heather, we love you immensely and will miss you immeasurably. Rest easy, beautiful. We will see you on the other side.

CONTACT: jgolden.ca@gmail.com