Phyllis Elizabeth (Chase) Whittier

Phyllis Elizabeth (Chase) Whittier of Overland Park, Kansas died June 10, 2016 at age 95. Visitation will be 6-8:00 pm on Friday, June 17th at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, Kansas. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 am on Saturday, June 18th at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 7023 W. 71st Street, Overland Park, Kansas. Cremation. The family suggests memorial contributions to Families for Mental Health, P.O. Box 325, Mission, Kansas 66201 or to Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas, 9720 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66212.

Phyllis was born February 22, 1921 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to Ned Hamilton Chase and Alice Margaret Carroll. She graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School and Lowell Teachers College with a degree in Music Education and taught in the Marblehead Public Schools. She married Roderick Paul Whittier of Woodsville, NH on January 8, 1949.

Phyllis enjoyed singing, and playing and teaching piano. She was an avid bird watcher, gardener and nature lover. She volunteered for many years at the Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City’s Swope Park. She was also active with Families for Mental Health, the Kansas and National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and teaching bible study at Colonial Presbyterian Church. Phyllis was a member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. She is survived by two sons, Randall Myles Whittier of Overland Park and Duncan Adair Whittier (Connie Corbett-Whittier) of Topeka, KS, grandsons, Matthew Whittier (Julie) of Spring Hill, TN; Christopher Whittier of Lenexa, KS; Benjamin Whittier of Greeley, Co; and Frank Whittier of Tulsa, OK; and two great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rod, her brother, William Chase, and a son, Christopher Wayne Whittier. Condolences may be left online at www.mcgilleyhoge.com. Arrangements by, McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204. (913) 642-3565.