Lillian Thelma Bryar

Lillian (Lilli) was born March 5th 1926 in Dixfield, Maine, daughter of Theresa and Leon Knapp. Lillian's dad died when she was five years old. Her mom moved the family consisting of Lilli and two brothers Leon and Cooper to Roxbury Massachusetts where a third brother, Robert, was born some time later. Lilli completed high school in 1944 and shortly thereafter married Paul Kespert. They lived in the Boston area where their girls, Terry and twin daughters Laura and Lee (Ann) were born. Laura died shortly after birth. The family lived in Cape Cod until their divorce in 1953. Lilli married Norman Bryar in 1955 and they moved to Columbus, Ohio where they had a new home built in Worthington, a suburb of Columbus. Steven, their son, was born a year later. Lilli was very artistic and creative and had a great eye for color. Her skills became apparent when she decorated an entire gymnasium for her daughter's activity and when she designed and constructed a holiday float for the Girl Scouts. The float won First Prize. Her creations won her local celebrity and numerous prizes, especially for her Christmas decorations. Her lawn displays regularly took First Prize in the annual neighborhood contest. Lilli was best known for her good looks. She was beautiful and attractive, with a flirtatious smile. In later years, she was consistently compared to a Zsa Zsa Gabor. Only her magnetic personality overshadowed her outer beauty. Lilli was outgoing and able to converse with anybody on a wide range of subjects. She was very intelligent and well read. No family member wanted to play her at Scrabble, Monopoly or any other board game that required thought. She won nearly every time, probably every time, but she may have lost once. Lilli, Norman and their son moved to Phoenix in 1977. Lilli became active in Doll Collecting Clubs and was well known in the those circles. She attended Paradise Hills Assembly of God church in Paradise Valley where she made many good friends. Lilli loved to meet and greet like a celebrity during trips to the mall and she enjoyed lunch with friends at the local senior center. Lilli is preceded in death by her grand daughter Stephanie, and survived by her husband Norman, children Terry, Lee and Steven (Rosemarie), grand chil dren Mike, Stacey, Kirstin, Erik and Morgan, great grand children Katie, Aleks

& Parker. A Memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at 10:30 am at the Paradise Hills Assembly of God.