OBITUARY
Phyllis A. Gilbert
October 4, 1942 – February 28, 2021
A Graveside Service for Phyllis A. Gilbert, age 78 of Richville will be held in the spring at the East Dekalb Cemetery with Pastor Mike Tomford officiating. Mrs. Gilbert passed away unexpectedly on Sunday February 28, 2021 at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse.
Surviving are her children Rodney Gilbert of Canton, Michael & Christine Gilbert of Ogdensburg, Kimberly Taylor of Tennessee, and Michelle & Patrick Downing of Florida; 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; her longtime companion Gary Rivers of Richville; along with two brothers, one sister and numerous nieces, nephews and friends that are like family. Phyllis was predeceased by her husband Eugene Gilbert in 2004.
She was born on October 4, 1942 in Gouverneur, a daughter of Carl & Ursula (Jobin) Manchester. She graduated from Herman Dekalb High School and later married Eugene Gilbert on July 7, 1960. The couple shared 44 years together until his death.
Phyllis worked for the Hermon-Dekalb Central School for 35 years in the transportation department. Following her retirement, she continued to certify bus drivers, monitors and ambulette drivers across Northern New York until January 2021.
She enjoyed camping, traveling, motor cycle riding, 4 wheeling, spending time with her family, and above all dancing. Memorial contributions can be made to the Richard Winter Cancer Center, 5 Lyons Place, Ogdensburg, NY 13669. Condolences can fond memories can also be shared at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.
Services
Graveside services will be held in the spring
Memories
Phyllis A. Gilbert
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYLisa Morrow - Sharpe
March 5, 2021
Rodney, Kimberly, Michelle. Michael and families, Sending you all sincere felt sympathy. It seems like just a few years ago we were playing and having sleepovers. I will always cherish my younger years when life was simple. Just having a bowl of sugar coated cereal was a big deal. I would leave Aunt Lee's to go to Aunt Phyllis's just to enjoy that bowl of cereal. Special memories with ❤.
Desiree Fisher
March 5, 2021
I had the pleasure of knowing Phyllis for 4&1/2 yr. She was a strong ,caring lady. I will miss her for the rest of my days. Rest in Peace Phyllis. Love Desiree Fisher
Carol & Dick LaDue
March 4, 2021
These past 9 years with both you and Gary produced a lot of good memories. We had such wonderful times hiking, camping, paddling, dancing, riding ATVs and motorcycles. We were so happy to have such wonderful close friends. We will miss you. Every time we participate in the above mentioned activities we will be thinking of you and celebrating our fond memories of you. Rest in peace sweet lady. We love you and our hearts ache having lost such a great friend.
Jim & Angie Donnelly
March 4, 2021
Dear Michelle, Pat and Family,
We are deeply saddened to hear about Phyllis, she was a beautiful & caring woman. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this most difficult time.....
Love, The Donnelly's
Matthew Denney
March 3, 2021
My prayers and condolences go out to her family and friends. Phyllis always came to the Canton Bus Garage to help us with our compliance testing with a smile and those delicious donuts. We never just looked at her as a SBDI, but a friend. She was great to talk with and an inspiration for me. Rest In Peace Phyllis. You will not be forgotten.
Gina Marie Boyea
March 3, 2021
My sincere condolences to all the family and Gary of Phyllis Gilbert. I first met Phyllis a few years ago dancing at the Massena Adult Center on Saturday nights. She was a great dancer, her and Gary. We ran into each other on a four wheeling Parishville Club ride. We both didn't realize that we shared the love for four wheeling😊
From then on it was such a nice friend ship. Then when Gary got sick I reached out to her for moral support by sending cards. It was quite an ordeal for Phyllis thru Gary's sickness, but things finally got better for Gary slowly and back to four wheeling. The last time we got together was last year for a ride. It was nice to see her again. I am so sadden to hear of her passing. She was a lovely, caring, kind person. I am so so sorry for your great loss🙏🙏🙏🌹🎈
Vickie Hanson
March 3, 2021
She helped me with getting my bus drivers license. And we will miss her and her wonderful donuts she would make for us at Canton central Bus garage. Will miss her sweet smile and her talks we would have about everything and anything and she would make you feel good about what you were doing. Rest In Peace Phyllis will miss you dearly.
Vickie Hanson
Barbara Shampine
March 3, 2021
Kim, Rodney, Michelle and Michael, Spouses, Grandkids and Great Grandkids I am so sorry for you heartache. Seems like a piece of my family is missing too. I love you guys and I will always consider you my family!
Phyllis,
I would not be able to share just one memory or moment that we had together. You were in my life since about the month or so after I was born. Our families have shared so much throughout these 50 years. I remember going to your trailer, then the farm house and then the little white house with red trim. I remember sliding down hill, the Trapper's Shed and the wild animals. All our times at Camp were so much fun, volleyball games, Texas horseshoes, swimming and the rope swing. See there are too many to talk about. I love you and will miss you. Tell Eugene I love him and give him a kiss from me!
Love Barbie Lyn
Michele Vondra-Harwood
March 3, 2021
Just a note to let you know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. So sorry for your loss.
The office and staff of Dr. Michele Vondra-Harwood
Carol Hubbard
March 3, 2021
My one memory of Phyllis is of her driving bus and one day (during my time in elementary school) she had to carry me into school because I didn't want to go in and was crying.
Another favorite memory as a child, when we visited Phyllis, is that she would let us play on the bus and I loved being the bus driver. (Maybe that's why I was crying and didn't want to go to school).
RIP
Linda Cutway
March 3, 2021
I’m sorry for your unexpected loss. May she Rest In Peace
Ann Whitton Goodale
March 2, 2021
Phyllis and Eugene were our next door neighbors and friends. I was a young girl at home and Phyllis asked me to babysit often when her children were little. She was always so nice to me as was her father before her. He was my bus driver for years. A very nice family. My condolences to her family.
Christine Bresett LaQuier
March 2, 2021
My condolences to Phyllis's family on their loss. I was an HD Class of 1979 graduate and one of many students who made their way to and from school under Phyllis's watchful eye. She was a beautiful, caring lady.
Heather Hopper (Bush)
March 2, 2021
Phyllis was a wonderful person. She drove my school bus and have so many great memories of her. She always greeted you with a smile and i remember in elementary school on the last day of school we stopped at Loopys, i think, in Dekalb and got ice cream. She didn't have to but that just shows the type of person she was. She will be missed.
Karen&Kevin Madill
March 2, 2021
Phyllis,where do we start? Even tho we've known you for a short while it seemed like we were friends forever,we can't imagine life without you!You were a true and wonderful person no wonder God called you home you were the perfect angel,we loved camping with you and Gary,riding the trike riding 4 wheeler going up to our camp having a beautiful day and then the campfire at Gary and your place it was so much fun we will still do those things but with your memory, we will laugh we will cry and do all the things you use to do and love because we cant imagine being without you! You were so loved by everyone RIP beautiful lady we will never forget you! Love Karen and Kevin
darlene taylor
March 2, 2021
R.I.P Phyllis, You Was A Special Person That Had So Much To Offer. I Will Always Remember The Times I Saw You With Gary. It Was Always Nice To See You Smiling And Happy. There Are Many Out Here That Miss You So Much . My Thoughts And Prayers Goes To Gary And The Family . You Will Always Be Remembered But Never Forgotten.
Naomi Drake
March 2, 2021
Phyllis was a very caring person, she was strict but you could always count on her. As I got older she would always call and have my husband and I fill her pool, and we talked and shared. She will be greatly missed by many.
My condolences to her family hugs and prayers ❤.
Rachel Riley
March 2, 2021
Sorry to hear of the passing of Phyllis. She was always kind to me and so joyful. I pray that the family can have a sense of peace and comfort during this time. Our condolences.
Sandy $ Bill Russell
March 2, 2021
Gary and Family,
We are so sorry to hear of Phyllis’s passing. She was a wonderful lady who will be missed by so many. We now have another angel up in heaven to watch over us. RIP Phyllis!!
Sandy & Bill Russell
Cathy Reed (flight)
March 2, 2021
Aunt Phyllis filled my childhood with such happy memories. She was a very special person in my life. She was a very loving, caring, happy woman. When life got me down I always thought of a memory with Aunt Phyllis. I will always cherish our time together and will miss her dearly. I love you Aunt Phyllis.
Andrea Mordarski
March 1, 2021
We all have so many memories with Grandma, but the thing that stands out to me is how she always greeted her grandchildren. She was always enthusiastic & happy to see us. She made us feel loved and valued just by the way she lit up when she saw us, or the way her voice was filled with excitement when she picked up the phone. I’m so thankful for that, and I hope it’s something I carry on with my own family. Love you lots G-funk, Andi.