Phyllis Elnora Land

Phyl was born in 1932 in Montpelier, Ohio at home on the family farm. She was the surprise baby that her parents and siblings were NOT expecting. At age four she moved to Ransom Michigan to reside at the Echard family farm. Where she experienced the joys of having an outhouse in Michigan winters and attended a one room school house where in first grade she only learned how to spell the word train.

Her final childhood move was to Hillsdale Michigan where she enjoyed town life. Though her first eleven years were on the farm she was NEVER a country person. She had an active High School life taking college prep (just in case) classes. She earned her own money working after school at the Five and Dime and later in accounting at Montgomery Ward as she always enjoyed and excelled in math.

When FBI recruiters came to Hillsdale in 1951 Phyl was selected for a job as a fingerprint analyst in Washington DC. She absolutely loved the city life of DC taking trolleys to work, home, and DC social life. She soon met the love of her life Tom Land (a DC boy) on August 11th (her dad's birthday) on a group blind date. They were married on Thanksgiving Day Nov 27, 1952. Tom stepped off the bus home on leave from basic training. He knew they were getting married but did not know it was THAT day!

She transferred from the FBI (her family still has the personal notes of congratulations signed by J. Edgar Hoover) in 1954 to work for Tom's employer the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade, Maryland. They happily commuted to work together and set their sights on purchasing their first home in March of 1959. She left the NSA when their only child Tamara (Tammy) was born. Phyl devoted her life to supporting Tom's career and raising Tammy. This included a three year family tour in South Korea, holding down the home front for a year when Tom went to Vietnam, and a four year family tour to Yakima, WA. After which they went back to Maryland until Tom's retirement. When they moved back to Yakima where Tammy, Jim, and daughter Kaili lived.

Phyl and Tom went on extensive worldwide trips and cruises, covering the seven continents, for seventeen years until Tom left his body in 2012. Phyl spent the next ten years at Orchard Park grieving heavily but supported emotionally by her family and caregivers. In January of 2022 she moved to Fieldstone Orchard West. After an extended illness we wish to express a loving thank you to her caregivers Aloha and Rhonda, her hospice team Melissa and Ariana, and the Earth Angels at the Cottage in the Meadow

A special shout out to our beloved friend Linda who was there with Phyl for several hours at her bedside as she passed. Her family is forever grateful to her. Phyl has always been about love and that love continues to shine through the legacy of her family.

Enjoy your party Phyl and thanks for the Praying Mantis; we know you are flying high.

A visitation is planned at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, August 14, 2024 from 3-5pm. A Graveside Service will be at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, August 15, 2024 at 10am.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cottage in the Meadow through Keith & Keith Funeral Home.