She was born November 9, 1922 in Mason City, Iowa, the daughter of Harvey and Dorothea DeGraw. Phyllis graduated from Spirit Lake High School, Class of 1941 in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Following High School, she followed her adventuresome spirit joining Braniff Airlines with her best friend Virginia Baker, also an Iowa girl, and moved to Dallas. After her Braniff days, she joined McGraw Hill Publishing Company as executive secretary to the Regional Vice President. A job which she absolutely loved. While working there, she met her future husband Jack Strickland.
Her husband, sister Anita Cajacob of Omaha, and brother Harold DeGraw of Spirit Lake pre-deceased her.
Jack and Phyllis had two sons Mark and his wife Vera of Arlington, TX, and David and his wife Joni of Oak Cliff, TX.
Mom loved raising her sons, and when they came into this world she became a full time homemaker, which she loved, and poured her life into raising them. Many times over the years she would say how much she enjoyed raising “little boys”! She also loved baking, and always kept the home full of “goodies”.
After Mark and David married their “soul mates”, she became an avid student of The Bible. She actively participated in the ladies’ “Bible Study Fellowship” organization for over seven years. On her own, she also established a ladies’ monthly get together in her home to enjoy a time of fellowship along with a devotional. She named it “Circle of Friends”. Additionally, one of her many gifts was writing beautiful cards to members of her Sunday School Class in times of their loss of a loved one.
A graveside service is planned for the immediate Family which will be followed by a “Celebration of Life” service at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.laurellanddallas.com for the Strickland family.
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