Phillis was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on November 23, 1951 to Ralph Harris and Irene Lankford. She attended several primary schools and graduated from Washington, D.C.’s Sacred Heart Academy in 1969. Phillis continued her education at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico for a year, until her first son Michael was born. Following a short period in San Jose, California, Phillis enlisted in the United States Air Force in January 1972. After completing her training, she was assigned to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, NY, followed by an assignment to Karamursel Air Station, Turkey, where she met her future husband, Darryl Brooks. She separated honorably from the Air Force in January 1976 and relocated to Anchorage, Alaska.
In December 1978, she moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she and Darryl were married on February 14, 1979. Their son Marcus was born in July 1980 and, as Darryl remained on active duty, they moved several times over the next twenty years: first to North Dakota, followed by Texas, Germany, Texas (again) and finally Denver. While in North Dakota, Phillis juggled life as a full-time mother and full-time student until she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting with Cum Laude honors. Phillis was an accountant by training, and from 1998 to 2014, she worked for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and the Department of the Interior, from which she retired in February 2014. While working full-time, she still managed to earn a Master’s Degree from Regis University.
Phillis loved to travel and took full advantage of living in Germany to visit most of Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Holy Land. Her favorite spots to visit were Paris, Rome and the Holy Land as well as a trip to Saudi Arabia to visit her son Michael and his family.
Wherever she went she impacted the lives of many, as a friend, mentor, advisor and spiritual sister in Christ. Phillis was tireless in her devotion to helping others. She helped establish a St. Vincent de Paul hotline that provides assistance in various forms to people in times of need, plus she served as Vice President of the Society. Phillis also volunteered time to the Catholic Charities school supply drive for the St. Ignatius Loyola parish. She was a member of the Cure D’Ars parish’s Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. Peter Claver. Later, she became a member and Grand Lady of the Ladies Auxiliary at St. Ignatius Loyola. In addition, Phillis was an instructor for Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). She looked for opportunities to help and to assist others in their growth. In short, Phillis lived her faith.
In addition to her volunteer work with the church, Phillis also loved to craft handmade soap, she was a voracious reader plus she loved making cards and stamping.
Phillis’ father Ralph, mother Irene, brother Carl, and sister Annette all passed on before her. She is survived by husband Darryl, sons Michael and Marcus, stepmother Emma Jones, brothers Sam, Patrick, Angelo and Anthony, sisters Monica, Jean, Brenda and Sandra, grandchildren Aiden and Mikayla and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws, all of whom hold her in the highest regard and will miss her dearly.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in her memory to a charitable organization such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charites (Archdiocese of Denver), Smile Train, Denver Rescue Mission, American Red Cross. That's just a few of the organizations whose mission and work she supported.
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