Phillis A. Minyard

Phillis Ann Minyard, age 77, passed away on January 8th, 2020. She was born in Denison, Texas on Nov. 10, 1942, to Fred and Betty A. Childs. Phillis graduated from Crooked Oak High School in Del City, OK. She was very oriented towards things in school. She loved to sing in the choir and go thru-out the state. She spoke of this often to me because it gave her a sense of fulfillment not often found in some of her other school activities.

Thru her first marriage to Virgil Keene, she had 3 children named Pamela, Richard and Karrie. Her first marriage was not an easy thing, so she in time went to live with her parents. Her parents were very wonderful people, and just what a women with 3 children needed. In time it came to pass, she met a man that fit the needs of her children and herself. She married Harlen Minyard and bore another child, naming her Felicia Michelle Minyard.

Phillis was a very determined woman all the way through to her last days on this earth. She was loved by all those people that she encountered in her travels of lifework job descriptions. She quite simply made it work!

She had vision problems in early life but after laser eye surgery, she began to do the many things she had wanted to do. Painting a variety of things in nature was the start. She had a whole house full of things she wanted to do. She liked to travel so we did. New Orleans was one the many places she liked to go to collect party masks and their unique food items together with old southern history. Thinking back, we had been to a lot of places in the United States. We went up to Yellowstone and down through Las Vegas a few times. We went far south to the Carolinas and down to Florida and Mississippi. There was always something and someplace to go. She loved it until she could hardly go anymore.

She loved to cook, just ask anyone who attended our large family cookouts in Chickasaw National Park. Now at home she taught us all something about cooking, even if it was only something real simple, and we all learned. Yes, she was that kind of woman.

Phillis had several professional job descriptions during her life time. She worked in the animal industries division helping with animal testing for brucellosis. She worked in Radiation Therapy at O.U. and finally at Dean McGee Eye Institute, where she finally retired after 10 years of dedicated service. She was given a monumental retirement service party. They actually ordered a specially made ceramic figurine from the Hummel foundry with the words "Phillis retires after 10 yrs. service." It had the full layout with all the bells and whistles and trimmings. (They don't do this anymore).

But when all else was said and done, it came down to the kids, grand kids and great grand kids. She was very proud of them all! The children: Pamela Barnhart (Les) is the oldest, with Elizabeth Wilson (Mark) and her 2 children Grayson and Cooper Wilson; Emmery Thummel (David) - daughter Heidi Thummel; Evan Frejo; Richard Lee Keene (now deceased) with Daniel Harp and Nathern Harp; Karrie Arnold; Felicia M. Gibble (Roy) with Victoria M. Gibble the oldest; and Carriruth Harczak (Kevin) and their 3 yr. old Elliza Harczak.