Phyllis (Carlson) Akins Obit

PHYLLIS (CARLSON) AKINS passed away peacefully and quietly in Mesa, AZ, going to the home of our Lord and Savior on Feb. 21, 2025. She is preceded in death by her parents Edwin and Florence (Lord) Carlson, brother Duane Carlson, son Clark Akins and grandson Jared Akins. She is survived by her sister Colonel Joyce Carlson, USAF retired, two sons Jeff and Bruce Akins, granddaughter Christina (Akins) Lemke, and two great-grandchildren. Phyllis came from humble beginnings to lead a full and vivid life. Born in Black River Falls, WI June 8, 1935 she was the daughter of a Cuyuna Range Iron Miner and grew up in Ironton. In high school she was athletic and competitive playing basketball and singing her way to Girls’ State with the C-I girls’ choir. For a brief time after high school, she was a chorus line skater in the Ice Follies. Phyllis was social and active. Her Mother Florence would comically say, “She didn’t have much time for books!” An “I can do anything” attitude prevailed with Phyllis. She was trained at the University of Minnesota to be an electroencephalograph technician. She took her skills to Boulder, CO where she married and had three sons. Later returning to Crosby-Ironton to raise them on her own as an independent woman. She worked in the marketing department of Scorpion Snowmobile and then at Camp Confidence (now called Confidence Learning Center, a center for the cognitive and developmentally disabled) where she was instrumental in the establishment of the Camp Confidence Celebrity Golf Tournament, a significant source of income for the fledgling camp and one of her proudest achievements. She was frequently on local television and radio stations promoting the camp. Later, she worked in several administrative positions and eventually retired as the Executive Sales Representative for a medical supply company. After retiring, she moved from Edina to Scottsdale, AZ. Retirement didn’t slow her down. In retirement she was a long-time and decorated volunteer at a Scottsdale hospital and subsequently appointed to an honorary position on the Board of Directors. She made many wonderful friends living in Arizona; however, she was particularly fond of their canine companions. She opened her home and her sofa to these furry friends and made sure she had a never-ending supply of dog treats for them. Her human friends would possibly get a Rice-Crispy treat too, but only if they behaved. Her sons and family are grateful for the blessed life she lived. Per her request, no funeral services will be held. To honor Phyllis’ passion for giving and kindness, please consider sending an honorarium to the Confidence Learning Center, a year-round outdoor educational and recreational experience for people of all ages with cognitive and developmental disabilities. The QR code below will take you directly to the donation Web site or visit mightycause.com/organi zations/Campconfidence Please dedicate your donation to Phyllis Akins. Your donations are dearly appreciated.