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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Phyllis Schoedel, attorney, dies at 80

She helped break ground as female lawyer

Schoedel (The Spokesman-Review)

Phyllis Schoedel, a pioneer in Spokane’s legal community, died Tuesday at her home in Spokane. She was 80.

Her law career was a clear example of the slow but steady entry of women into the formerly all-male profession.

After earning a law degree from the University of Washington, Schoedel began to practice at the King County prosecutor’s office in 1952. Five years later, she moved to Spokane and started a family law practice. She was one of just a few active female attorneys at the time in the area.

She was married to Spokane accountant Donald Schoedel, who died in 1984. They had two children, Kurt Schoedel and Elizabeth Schoedel, an attorney.

Phyllis Schoedel worked as an attorney until 2003.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Kathleen O’Connor recalled becoming a lawyer in the 1960s, when women were a small minority in law.

“She was one of the first women attorneys here who were visible in the courtroom. She had a good practice,” O’Connor said. Many other female attorneys tended to remain inside government offices and seldom were seen litigating cases in court.

Also, said O’Connor, Schoedel “had the best shoes in town.” All her adult life, Schoedel wore stylish high heels at nearly any occasion.

An active volunteer with Camp Fire Girls Inc., she took a number of positions with that group. In 1983 she was elected to a two-year term as Camp Fire’s national president.

Schoedel also took active roles in several area groups, including the Business and Professional Women’s Club.

A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Reach Tom Sowa at (509) 459-5492 or toms@spokesman.com.