Cameron Lee Phillips

Cameron Lee Phillips, 75, died peacefully April 23 in his home in Tucson, Ariz. following an illness.

Cam was born June 21, 1948, in East Lansing, Mich., to Robert and Patricia Phillips. He graduated in 1970 from Michigan State University, where he played in the jazz band. After college, he moved to Vail, Colo. where he played the drums with the Roger Carr Trio at the Vail Village Inn. Between sets, he fell in love with a waitress, Sara, and they married May 4, 1974. The young couple returned to Michigan, where he earned a law degree at Thomas Cooley Law School, and they welcomed their first child.

In 1978, they moved to Coeur d’Alene, where Cam began practicing law, first at the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and later, in private practice which he would lead for more than 40 years. Cam and Sara had four children: Emily Heffter (Matt Gouras), of Seattle; Robert Phillips (Melissa Phillips), of Park City, Utah; Charles Phillips (Alisha Wolf), of Baltimore; and Laura Jensen (Stephen Jensen), of Tucson, Ariz.

Besides his wife and his children, Cam is survived by eight grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Phillips.

Cam adored and admired his wife, and they worked together at the law office until their retirement in 2020. Cam’s work as a lawyer impacted myriad lives in Coeur d’Alene, and he was known for the empathy and compassion he showed anyone who came to his small office for help.

He was a tremendous father and loved most of all to be at the lake with his family, spending summers at the family cabin on Priest Lake, teaching his kids to boat, waterski and fish. He was a gifted jazz musician, and played in the North Idaho College jazz ensemble in addition to filling his home with music daily, playing the piano by ear and ensuring all his kids could find two and four before they could talk. He refused to conform to expectations for the timing of his jokes; like any well-trained drummer, he “played the rests,” even if that meant a moment of awkward silence.

Cam cherished being at the wheel of his boat, surrounded by his family as he piloted a cocktail cruise through the last pocket of sunshine before the end of every day. He will be deeply missed and richly remembered.

As a celebration of his life, the family will hold a private ceremony this summer.