Phyllis Jean Sumner

She was born July 25, 1922, in Olathe, Colorado to Oliver Hargan Viers and Katherine Goddard Viers.

She graduated from Olathe High School and attended business school in Montrose, Colorado. After graduating, she moved to Chicago to work at the U.S. Treasury Department and subsequently transferred to the Washington D.C. offices.

In 1943 she returned home to marry her childhood sweetheart Darrell Wesley Sumner, son of John Wesley and Margaret Marsh Sumner. They opened a Purina feed store in Delta, Colorado, where they resided for many years. This was the start of a faithful, courageous and loving adventure for 65 years of marriage. After losing the Purina store due to a fire, she followed Darrell to the Northwest where he was involved in building dams. Eventually they moved to Whiteriver, Arizona. She was the Postmaster in Whiteriver for 20 years. It was in Whiteriver that Darrell & Phyllis started a partnership in Ponderosa Aviation that lasted 25 years. The company provided emergency flights for the Indian Health Hospital and worked with the Federal Government to fight forest fires.

After she and Darrell retired, they moved to Mesa, enjoying the warm weather and traveled whenever they could.

She enjoyed gardening, reading, knitting, crocheting, sewing and of course, her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband Darrell and her son John Wesley Sumner. She is survived by her daughter Darla Jean Sumner Becker (Richard), Douglas Dwain Sumner (Charlene) and Lawrence Donald Sumner (Colleen), 9 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren.

She will be interred with her husband and son at the Pea Green Cemetery, Olathe, Colorado at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mariposagardens.com for the Sumner family.

To receive updates on current or future services and shared memories for Phyllis Jean Sumner, please see below to sign up for email or text notifications.

Please contact the staff of Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park & Funeral Care for questions or comments.