This is late coming but heart-felt andI hope not too late for the family to read.
Susie we all were so very pleased that you brought your Mother to the Questers Christmas party at my house.  As always it was a pleasure to see her--sweetness personified.  MIssed her at the Antique Show because I had already left and when I could have gone to honor her memoy and life's work at her funeral, I was out of town. 
I told her that on the phone she had the most modulated voice I had heard  and then I read about her acting--maybe that is where she got that or in fact Phyllis was so in control of herself , she probably just worked to control that too.  Will miss her dear self and beautiful blue eyes.  Jean Matheson, Quester

Whenever I think of Phyllis the quote, " It's not the load that breaks you down, it's how you carry it", comes to mind. She was many things to many people but moreover she was the glue that held her family together through it all. She more than deserves the peace and tranquility that she's now enjoying with loved one's who have preceeded her. 
Much love and admiration always,
Rachel

Remembering many happy days with Phyllis working at the Bloom Again Consignment Shop, she taught me much about antiques, so pleased that I knew Phyllis, my condolemnces to the family
Betty Tracy

February 18, 2012
Mike and I met you, Phyllis and Fred when we both moved to New City.  We immediately struck up a friendship that lasted many years.  I will always remember the good times we had every weekend when we got together with you and the Pikes.  You will be greatly missed-love Marge Snead

Dear Aunt Phyllis,
So happy to hear of your new adventure . . . I short trek through the darkness . . . maybe like the Black Forest of Germany you know so well, and then on to sunlit mountain top.  And running to meet you are Freddie with a few snakes hanging around his neck and his ocelot at his heels, and sweet and lovely Karen close behind . . . Grandma  and Grandpa Gregg and Uncle Ken, their beautiful eyes shinning with tears of joy for being all together  again.   And there, standing patiently behind them all, waiting for His turn . . . our brother Jesus Christ who has been with you and watched over you all your life . . . I know He has gathered you into His arms and whispered softly in your ear . . . "Well  done little Phyllie  . . . very well done . . . 
I love you so, you are in all of our hearts today and . . .  always
Connie

  
It's interesting to reflect on the things you have managed to hold onto from one's childhood years. Among my favorite possessions from that time were the books I could count on receiving every year from my aunt Phyllis, representing the love and Christmas cheer of the Neumeyer family.

Lately I have been going through items that I managed to rescue from a house fire I had two years ago. Thankfully, as a blessing, I have managed to locate some of these books from Phyllis, with every inner lining starting off with Phyllis' trademark writing greeting me with "Dearest Timmy," and her warmth would flow forth from there.

Of course, there was more than a book collection coming from Phyllis. There were the constant hugs, the good-natured joking, the cookie baking lessons when I was more or less abandoned by my older siblings as they went off on some adventure with the Neumeyer kids. Then later on there were the beautiful letters for my birthdays and the beachfront postcards while I was deployed to the desert of Iraq and her plugging my medical business in Vermont for the New York-based snowbirds who would visit her Florida shop in the winters. All that, and so much more, as her continual reminders to me and my siblings that we were in her thoughts and in her heart.

I think of all the pain that she had to endure through life, and all of her medical concerns later in life,  and am now and will forever be amazed at how none of it ever seemed to impact her attitude. She has always been, and continued to be later in life, among the most effortlessly and genuinely loving and upbeat and spiritually generous people I have ever had the privilege to know.

In my family, we choose to believe that Phyllis is not gone, but is simply out of sight. We choose to believe that she is now pain-free and perfected in the company of He who makes "all things new," and is reunited with Freddie and Karen, her brother Ken, and her parents and all those whose souls she was united with in life.

I thank her for her perpetual display of Grace, and for the honor of being able to say I am her nephew, and wish God's peace to my uncle Fred, and cousins Suzie and Kenny, and all those who love her, as I do so very much.

Blessings,

Timothy Cook

Warm, attractive, intelligent, and full of grace and good humor, Phyllis was also one of the most unselfish and considerate individuals I have ever known. One small thing I remember is that she introduced me to "Constant Comment" tea and now whenever I drink it I will think of her warmth, humor and just the right amount of spice.
         
   Gayl Koster, Philadelphia, PA

I have been privilegded to know Phyllis and her family for over 50 years. She was unquestionably the most consistently and genuinely cheerful person in many of our lives.  Just close your eyes and you can see her smile, hear her mellow voice -- 'and dream of the soft look her eyes had once'  -- and always in our hearts.

Curt Koster, Orlando and New York

My fondest memory of Aunt Phyllis has always been her beautiful bright smile and lilting laughter, which always brightened up the room.  Her optimism and positive spirit despite any adversity has always been a great inspiration to me.  I will carry her memory in a special place in my heart forever.  

Love Heather.

There never was, nor ever will be a more precious and loving sister than the wonderful one with whom the Dear Lord blessed me so many years ago. When we were little we greed I would go first and now she has gone without me. We spent our happy childhood with our dear brother, Ken, running among the wild flowers and wild mint. Our summer hours were whiled away at the old swimming hole.  Phyll loved to play "Pretend" and she always had to be the beautiful princess donning mother's big hats with their feathers, and piling on lots of jewelry and strings of beads  ~ and high heeled shoes. I really wanted to be out scooping up polliwogs with Ken ~ but I would be a Prince if she really needed one.  When we lived in Mark Twain's house in Hartford our piano was stored in Harriet Beacher Stowe's house next door. Phyll would faithfully go over into that cold dark house to practice. That took courage.

Phyllis was adorable with her beautiful blonde curls and big blue eyes. I think she wanted to be an actress when she grew up.  I could hear hr practicing while she was going down the stairs rehearsing out loud what she was going to say- always with an English accent.  By the time she found mother she was a little Yankee again.  

In our school plays she had the lead role.  I was just the opposite and usually ended up as a tree or some other part of the scenery - incurable stage fright.  I remember feeling sorry for Phyll when she had to practice the piano every day.  Then later I envied her because she played so beautifully and my repertoire consisted of “Chop Sticks”

Phyll was very intelligent and you could say that reading was her favorite sport.  Her interest in antiques took her to lots of little shops all over the country and she as so excited to show me some very rare article she had found.

Growing up in a two hundred and fifty year old antique house full of valuable antiques that you were not allowed to touch, I could not share my dear sister's need for someone else's articles.  

Our phone conversation in later years have been so happy and endearing and made the thousand miles between us melt away.  I am so sorry I lived so far away and we could not spend hours together reminiscing about how lucky we were to have so many blessings, starting with a wonderful and loving mother. And father in a sleepy little town in Connecticut.  They are together now with my sweet and lovable sister and brother and I can't wait to join them before very long.  We will meet again ~ I know where ~ but I don't know when.  I know we'll meet again some sunny day.  Till then I will miss Her very much and pray she is warm and safe in Jesus' arms.  

May our dear Lord bless you dear Susie and may sweet memories of your dear mother remain in your heart always ~ they will be forever in mine.


Her loving sister,  Lassie Gregg Cook

A most remarkable woman and a most remarkable life. We mourn our loss but celebrate the time we had together.

Mrs. Neumeyer, I was delighted to read of all you deeds and many interests.  We were neighbors for many years and the first to live up the hill.  God has blessed you in many ways and having your family living only a brief step away a joy for you and your family.  Jan Leitch, Pine Hill Terrace.

When I was a boy, I knew my Aunt Phyllis as the Ringmaster of the Neumeyer Flying Circus — that would unexpectedly arrive at our house, barnstorming the countryside in a well-worn Volkswagen bus or tiny station wagon, packed with 4 kids and assorted animals. Today I wonder how many "Supermoms" could move 30 plus times in 30 plus years, all the while in good humor, simultaneously  taming the beloved, wild "Frederico," keeping house with free-ranging ocelots and poisonous beaded lizards and odd escaped tarantula — and maintain a semblance of sanity.

As a young man, tired, hungry, and cold from my journeys, many was the dark night I would show up at Phyll's doorstep at the little house on Lake Lucille, in need of shelter and sustenance. Unfailingly, her warm greeting, her hug and smile and bright blue eyes and ebullient laughter were balm to the soul of the weary traveler. Best of all, while we sat at her table with the Lazy Susan, were her words of encouragement and wise counsel and genuine concern for the course I was taking in life. No wonder that her children felt they could take on jungles, wide oceans, even African lands on the verge of revolt — with such a Mother's love to sustain them.

Now, as a man with nearly six decades of living behind me, I pause to reflect upon the truly amazing person that Phyllis Neumeyer was. Her energy knew no bounds. Her resilience in the face of unbearable loss and sorrow was unbelievable. Her quiet dignity and calm composure under terrific stress, her unsinkable optimism despite all odds — and above all her undying love for those she held close and her special talents for making her love felt in a hundred little special Phyll ways — these things will live on in the hearts of those who love her, as will the memory of her special Phyll laugh and her bright blue eyes.

So long for now, "Little Mother."

Your loving nephew,
David

I did not know Ms. Neumeyer but I read what was written about her in the Vero paper today and I just wanted to let you know what an inspiration it is to me to see how she loved life under such tragedies. I am going through a rough time right now and after reading about her, I feel I have no right to complain, but need to live the life  I have been blessed with to the fullest. I need to trust God and I hope to give to my friends and family a little of what she has given. You are all lucky to have known such a wonderful women and you can have peace knowing not only did she influence people while she was alive, but she continues to do so in her death, from someone she never met. Wish I could have known her. And I plan to tell my mother I love her everyday.  Betty

Phyllis was a wonderful caring lady. Glad she was a part of my life! God Bless Susie and her family.

Phyllis will be missed by so many of us.  I was lucky to meet such a classey lady.

OBITUARY

Phyllis Neumeyer

August 5, 1925 – February 11, 2012

Aycock Funeral Home

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