Phyllis Jean Henderson

Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Phyllis Jean (Brown) Henderson on May 28, 2025. She passed away peacefully at her Oklahoma City home after a four-month long battle with lung cancer. She was 87. To friends she was Phyl, to family she was Grandma, and to all who knew her she was a loving and passionate friend.

Phyllis was born in Ada, Oklahoma on December 9, 1937, to William and Imogene Brown. The family welcomed her baby sister Rebecca “Becky” Ann (Brown) Cole in 1946, and the Brown family moved to Arlington, Virginia when Papa Brown joined the marines. Phyllis talked fondly of her childhood on the farm, her horse Tony, & how the Manassas Battlefield was right in their backyard. Phyllis remembers standing on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue as a child where she watched the cortege of FDR proceed to Arlington Cemetery. In 1952 they moved to Oklahoma City where “Brownie” worked at the newly built Federal Aviation Administration building. As a sophomore she enrolled in Putnam City High School. During the summer of her junior year she met and started dating her soulmate, James “Jim” Henderson. They were married September 1, 1956, and moved to Stillwater where she worked for the Civil Engineering Department while Jim finished his Industrial Engineering degree at OSU.

They moved to Oklahoma City in 1959 when Jim accepted a job at Western Electric. That same year, Phyllis joined Delta Theta Chi sorority where she has served as secretary, treasurer, and president. Phyllis loved her sorority sisters, the annual flower sale and garage sale and felt the educational scholarships and service they provided were vital contributions to the community. In 1960 they welcomed their first son, Russell; then in 1962 their second son, Steven. The entire family was active in the Tri City Athletic Organization with Jim coaching and both boys played football, baseball, and wrestled. Each summer they enjoyed traveling with five other families to beautiful Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas for two weeks where they water skied, wake boarded, and rode on two huge DC-10 inner tubes Jim obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration where he worked. Phyllis and Jim loved to travel and enjoyed trips to San Diego, Indianapolis, Hawaii, and Alaska. They also bowled weekly in a mixed league with close friends. Phyllis worked at Summerfield Associates for eight years while Steve attended college at OSU.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Henderson, and by her parents William and Imogene Brown.

Phyllis is survived by her son, Russell Henderson and wife Cindy of Oklahoma City, son, Steve Henderson and wife Julie of Wichita Falls, Texas, her five grandchildren Colby Henderson, Chelsea Williams and husband Luke, Bryce Henderson and wife Whitney, Chase Henderson and wife McKenzie, and Maddie Hendricks and husband Adam, her nine great-grandchildren Charles, Lydia, Brooklyn, Jake, Mason, Andrew, Maggie, Lonnie, and Piper, her sister Becky Cole and husband John, by her niece Laura Peacock and husband Bruce, and by her nephew Brian Cole.

Visitation will be Friday, June 6, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Bill Merritt Funeral Service, 6201 Northwest 39th Expressway, Bethany and the graveside service will be on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13313 North Kelley, Oklahoma City.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those interested to donate to the Phyllis Henderson Educational Scholarship. Checks can be made out to: OK Beta, and mailed to Amy Seerey, President, 10105 Rachel Ct., Oklahoma City, OK 73159.

Phyllis and Jim are walking hand-in-hand again.

John 11:25-26, Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.”