Deborah Phillips Wylie

Deborah Ann Phillips was born in Phoenix, Arizona on February 19, 1951 to James Boyd Phillips and Evelyn Wasem Phillips. Growing up with her brother and sister included camping trips and summers divided between Pacific Ocean beaches and the family cabin in the White Mountains. (Each igniting a love and curiosity about nature.) From the age of 12, she was raised in Scottsdale on a beautiful 5-acre estate surrounded by 25 acres of untouched desert beauty. This magnified her deep interest in the natural world, especially animal care and behavior. During high school, she competed in horse shows around AZ and the southwest on her Quarter Horse, Hello Dolly, earning several State Championships.

After graduation from Saguaro High School In 1968, she traveled to Europe with a Phoenix College Study Tour and then left her world of horses, aviaries of exotic birds, chicken coops, 5 dogs, pet Pekin ducks (Abbot and Costello), huge vegetable garden, citrus grove, tennis court and swimming pool to attend Scripps College in Claremont, CA. She completed her BA degree in Child Psychology in 1972. While attending Scripps, she became a certified L.A. County Scuba diver and Water Safety Instructor. She also volunteered at the Mary B. Eyre Children’s School, where she worked in the Headstart and Preschool classrooms. This led to volunteering at the Casa Colina-Claremont Colleges Preschool for Multi Handicapped Children and their able-bodied siblings. After graduation, she was hired as their head teacher. That summer, she persuaded her brother and sister to join her on an American Youth Hostel bicycle tour of the Hawaiian Islands.

As head teacher at Casa Colina, Debbie worked with PT, OT, Speech, psychologists, and other experts in the field of early childhood education. This exciting environment drew her back to AZ to study Special Education at Arizona State University where she earned her MA degree in 1975. Before graduation, Gilbert Public Schools offered her a job teaching Jr. High students with Learning Disabilities. Working with this age group was challenging and very rewarding.

During this time, she met Milton Calander, Jr. at an ASU party and they married in 1978. They had two sons, the first, Phillip Rhys Calander, was born on 12/10/80. Realizing she loved being a full time mom, Debbie resigned from Gilbert Jr. High in 1981. Peter Emory Calander was born soon after, on 7/22/82, adding more joy to the Calander household. During this time, Debbie began selling her homemade fudge (the Oh, Fudge Candy Co.) to local gift shops and grocery stores.

In 1985 she accepted a 4-month teaching contract at Frank Elementary School in Guadalupe. With her sons becoming more independent, she wanted to judge the feasibility of resuming her career. The verdict was positive, so she then applied for a full time position at near-by Dobson High School and was hired as a teacher for students with Learning Disabilities .

Debbie loved working with the students and talented staff at the large, comprehensive high school. She met several lifelong friends there and was often inspired by her students. Some of the projects she pioneered included renaming the department: Individualized Instruction; remodeling the department office to allow room for their first computer lab; creating the Dobson Bagel and Candy Company, a student run business; planning Arizona adventure day trips for graduating seniors; designing and growing a large vegetable garden on campus to augment math and measurement lessons; integrating LD and ED students into general education classrooms; and co-teaching with content area teachers. She was co-chair of the Special Education department for several years. In 19?? she was honored by district teachers and administrators as Outstanding Special Education Teacher.

By 1999, a contentious 20 years of marriage ended with divorce from Milton Calandar, Jr.

In 2004, she married the love of her life and soulmate, Stephen Ray Wylie. The two shared camping, fly fishing, sailing, snorkeling, white water rafting and kayaking adventures for over 20 years. Travels included trips to Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, New England, and the Pacific Northwest. Rafting the Rogue, one of Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rivers, and the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon were treasured, incredible experiences. With a PhD in Biology, Steve shared and magnified Debbie’s interest and passion in the natural world. For many years, the two celebrated their anniversary with a 5-day two-person rafting trip down Utah’s San Juan River.

Debbie continued to teach at Dobson High School until her retirement in 2010, culminating an adventurous 32 fulfilling years advocating for special needs students and their parents.

Family was Debbie’s greatest love. Sharing time and experiences with her husband, sons and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and extended family filled her heart with endless joy.

Unfortunately, in 2018, after fracturing several ribs and vertebrae, Debbie was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Comprehensive care at the Mayo Clinic continued throughout her illness.

She is survived by her beloved, heroic husband, Stephen Wylie; son Phillip Calandar (Vanessa) and step grandson Alex; son Peter Calander (Chelsea) and grandsons Henry and Edwin; stepson David Wylie and granddaughters Brooklynn and Amber; stepson James Wylie (Sarah); brother Mark Phillips (Allison) and nieces Emily (Alex), Katherine (Nate), and Sarah; sister Tina Roderique (David), and nieces Kelsey, and Meagan.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.