Meet Our Trustees
PDG C. Phillip Thorleifson
District 19-B Trustee
Past District Governor Phill Thorliefson has been a Lion since 1972 and is both a Life Member and a Melvin Jones Fellow. He has been a member of the Marysville Lions Club for four years and before that Mill Creek Lions and Edmonds Lions. He served as President of each of those clubs and is the current president of the Marysville Lions. He was chairman of the 19B Hearing Foundation when it merged with the Northwest Lions Foundation. Additionally, Phill chaired the building of the Park for the Blind in 1976, chaired and published the 19B Zone Roster from 1984-2004, and is active in the Snohomish County Sight & Hearing Foundation.
Phill is a homegrown Seattleite. After graduating from Ballard High School in 1946, Phill served in the US Navy's Submarine Service for two years. He earned his bachelor's from Pacific Lutheran College in 1952 and his Masters of Education from Western Washington University in 1964. Phill taught elementary school grades 2-6 for 32 years. On top of that, he was "on loan" to teach Teaching Methods at Western Washington University from 1970-1974.
Phill and his wife, Amy, have been married for more than 55 years. They have two daughters, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Contact Phill at:
; 360-659-8484
You can find Phill at: Marysville Lions Club, meeting 6:30pm 1st and 3rd Thursdays @ Village Restaurant, 3rd & Ash in Marysville
PZC Mary Jo Cady
District 19-C Trustee
Mary Jo Cady was born and raised in Seattle. She attended Washington State University for 3 years and the University of Washington for 1 year. Mary Jo moved permanently to Mason County in 1974 when she married Jim Cady. They have 3 sons.
Mary Jo, who is also a Melvin Jones Fellow, and Jim joined the Shelton Lion's Club in the early 90's when they were looking into the possibility of having to get a sight dog for Jim. Their main interest with Lions has been with the sight program and Camp Leo for diabetic children. She has been Zone Chairman for C-2, Sight Chair, Membership Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and King Lion for the Shelton Lions. Mary Jo now serves as a Trustee on the Board of the Northwest Lions Foundation and is chair of the Health Screening Unit Committee.
Mary Jo served as a Mason County Commissioner for 6½ years before resigning her commission to have more quality time with Jim. She accepted a position with the Community Transportation Association of America out of Washington, D.C., as the Executive Director of the local Community Transportation Association of the Northwest in Tumwater. She was appointed by Governor Locke to represent all of the counties on the State Emergency Management Council and also on the Transportation Commission's Stakeholders' Advisory Panel.
She is a member of the Shelton Chamber of Commerce, a past Board Member of the Mason County Economic Development Council and sits on the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council as Secretary-Treasurer. She is also a volunteer driver for Mason Transit.
Contact Mary Jo at:
You can find Mary Jo at: Shelton Lions Club, meeting 1st and 3rd Tuesdays @ Alpine Way Retirement Center, 900 W Alpine Way in Shelton
PDG Barbara Dower
District 19-D Trustee
Barbara served on the Northwest Lions Foundation Board from 2000-2006 and again starting in 2009. She has been a Lion for 20 years — with perfect attendance! Barbara wants to do good things for people in need and together with other Lions can do so much more. Her passion is to aid those with sight and/or hearing difficulties.
Barbara manages the office and Trading Post (shop) for the Grand Columbia Council 614 Boy Scouts of America in Wenatchee. She spent a number of years in the newspaper industry, having majored in journalism and minored in English at college.
Barbara is a member of the Wenatchee Central Lions and is a Past District Governor (District F). Selling tickets at the Chelan County Fair and Apple Blossom Festival/Queen activities are some of her favorite things to do with the Wenatchee Central Lions Club. She is a Melvin Jones Fellow and has received several Presidents’ Appreciation Awards: Lion of the Year, Cub Lion, and 100% Secretary. She is a graduate of the MD19 Lions Leadership Institute and MD19 Retreat Facilitators Training.
Barbara lives in Leavenworth, where her mother lives next door. She has three grown children and five grandchildren. Her hobbies include knitting, embroidery, reading, cooking, fishing, writing and singing. She and her mother enjoy antiquing and shopping together. She has two furry friends, Boo and Callie.
As an NLF Trustee, Barbara:
- Supports NLF District Trustees in their service to promote Foundation programs
- Visits Lions Clubs and attends conferences to promote the NLF Lions Programs:
- Lions Fundraising
Encourages Lions Clubs members to participate in the Foundation's annual fundraising campaigns that support the Foundation's Lions Programs (above). These campaigns are:
Contact Barbara at:
; 509-293-1966
You can find Barbara at: Wenatchee Central Lions Club, meeting every Friday at noon @ the Wenatchee Center
PDG Brian Ross
District 19-E Trustee
Past District Governor Brian Ross has been a lion since 1994, when he and his wife Dencie joined the Chewelah Valley Lions Club. He embraced Lionism from the beginning and has served as President and secretary twice, achieving 100% each time. He has been club tail twister as well as chairman of numerous committees within the club. Within a few years of joining the Lions organization, Brian felt the calling to serve beyond the club level and was elected zone chairman for two consecutive terms, achieving 100% each time. He has served as District Governor, also achieving 100%, as YEP Chairperson, and has been on the Long Range Planning team at the Multiple District level. Brian also served as co-chairperson for a multiple district convention and has been awarded three Presidential Leadership medals.
Brian is a native to Chewelah, Washington, having graduated as a 12 year senior from Jenkins High School. After attending Wenatchee Junior College, he returned to Chewelah and worked in the timber industry in the Stevens County area for over 40 years. Brian can be considered semi-retired but continues to have a full agenda of activities.
His marriage to Denice for the past 28 years has rewarded them with 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Brian and Denice, both Melvin Jones recipients, make their home in Chewelah and remain active in both their community and the Lions organization.
Contact Brian at:
;509-935-6533
You can find Brian at: Chewelah Valley Lions Club, meeting 5:30pm every 1st and 3rd Wednesday @ The Deli, 114 E Main St, Chewelah, WA 99109
PZC Marge Shepherd
District 19-F Trustee
Past Zone Chair Marge Shepherd joins us in 2007 with her third term as the Foundation's District F Trustee. She has previously served on our Executive Committee and has been involved with Lions activities since 1964, when her husband joined. She became a member of the Yakima Valley Lioness in 1980, joining West Valley Lions in 1991. She has served her club in various offices, one of which has been Secretary/Treasurer for the past eight years. Activities she has chaired include her club's 40th Charter Anniversary in 2004, Peace Poster, White Cane Days, and Play it by Ear activities. Marge has also spent time with the additional responsibilities of District F Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Sight & Hearing Chair. Her favorite club activities are the West Valley Specials bowling program for the developmentally disabled and mentally challenged and helping with the development and maintenance of the West Valley Community Park.
All of that activity hasn't gone unnoticed. Marge has received several awards and various commendations for her work as a club officer. She is a Melvin Jones Fellow and has received four International President's Certificates of Appreciation and the Lions International Leadership Medal.
Marge was born in Illinois but graduated from high school and college in the Yakima area. She spent 20 years as a bookkeeper/office manager and currently runs a ceramic shop, "The Mushroom Patch," during the school year. She and her husband, PDG Bill, have been married for 46 years (and lived in the same house that entire time!) and raised seven children. They have twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Together, Marge and Bill are active in the extension of new Lions Clubs. She currently serves as the certified guiding Lion for the Red Mountain Lions and guiding for the Selah Valley Lions. She also enjoys reading, "usually late at night or in the car on the way to a Lions function," and gardening. Marge collects all things Lions and has a large collection of nutcrackers.
Contact Marge at:
; 509-966-3927
You can find Marge at: Yakima West Valley Lions Club, meeting 7:00pm 2nd and 4th Thursdays @ Summitview Baptist Church – Fellowship Hall, 8700 Summitview Ave, Yakima (club visitors interested in coming for dinner, please contact Marge ahead of time)
Lion Stacy Walters
District 19-G Trustee
PZC Alan Stone, OD
District 19-H Trustee
Alan has been a Lion for over 50 years. He has served his club as board member, treasurer, secretary, Vice President, and President. As a Lion, Alan is happy to have the opportunity to help others in his community. He particularly enjoys their involvement in White Cane Days, Camp Horizon, the Community Calendar, and with Thanksgiving Baskets. He also serves his community as a board member for Congregation Beth Israel in Bellingham.
Dr. Stone grew up in Chicago but now lives in Bellingham, Washington. He has a Bachelor of Science in Optics and continued his education to become a Doctor of Optometry. In the course of his career, Alan has received numerous honors, including the American Optometric Association's Key Person of the Year (1992), the President's Distinguished Service Award from the Optometric Physicians of Washington (2007), and the Clara Barton Award from the American Red Cross.
Alan and his wife, Bonnie, have three grown children and three grandchildren. When he gets the chance, he enjoys playing a few rounds of golf.
Contact Alan at: 360-734-6526
You can find Alan at: Ferndale Lions Club, meeting 6:30pm 2nd & 4th Wednesdays @ Denny's Restaurant, 5720 Barrett Rd., Ferndale
PDG Marvin Miller
District 19-I Trustee
Past District Governor Marvin is a second generation Lion. In 1947, Marv's father became a charter member of California's Waterford Lions Club and was an active member his entire life. He maintained perfect attendance for more than 50 years of service.
In 1969, Marvin joined the Escalon Lions Club. While in that club, he held many offices and committee chairs, finally serving as 100% President in 1974-75. He transferred to the Lions 500 Club in Modesto in 1978 and again became a working Lion in that Club. In 1983, he transferred to the Oakdale Lions Club and again was 100% President during 1997-98. He was Lion of the Year in 1999 and 2002. He is an Ernie Theobold Fellow and Melvin Jones Fellow. He has received three International Presidential Awards and in 2003 attended the Lions Leadership Institute at Cal Poly Pomona. At the District level, Marv has been Zone Chairman twice, Region Chairman twice, was a member of the Board of Directors for the California Lions Camp/Camp Pacifica, was a member of the Finance Committee for the District, and was Chairman of the Advanced Planning Committee. As Vice District Governor, he chaired the MERLO team. On the Multiple District Level, he served two years on the District Convention Management Committee. He was District Governor of District 4-A1 for the year 2003-2004. As outgoing District Governor, he received the Helen Keller Fellow award.
Marvin was born in Modesto, California and grew up in the small farming community of Waterford, California. He worked for Stanislaus County Dept. of Public Works for 4 years prior to joining a local engineering firm in Modesto. After 26 years, and achieving part ownership, he began working for a much larger engineering firm. After 13 years with that firm, he retired in August, 2002. He continues to be involved in the field, owning his own consulting business, where he likes to think that he chooses his clients and his jobs!
Marv and his wife, Kathie, have four children. There are eight grandchildren – seven girls and one boy! Marv enjoys Vintage Auto Racing with his 1965 Cobra, woodworking in his great new shop, fishing, and crabbing, as time and the season allow.
Contact Marvin at:
; 360-385-5473
You can find Marvin at: Port Townsend Lighthouse Lions Branch Club (sponsored by the Sequim Valley Lions Club), meeting 6:30pm 2nd and 4th Thursdays in Port Townsend.
