Phyllis Jean Mc Fie was born to Cecil and Mildred Blackwelder on the 1st of December 1931, in Garden City, Kansas. Phyllis was their only child and the three of them lead a very interesting life. In Phyllis’s teen years, they settled in Florence Colorado, where she attended her last two years of high school. There she participated in the band and was a very popular and bouncy cheerleader. She, also, was a very accomplished musician on the piano as well as the saxophone and later the accordion. Once Phyllis set her mind to do something, that was it.
It was during her senior year that she met William McFie and then later eloped. Who would know then that this marriage would last for 59 years? This only ended by the passing her husband in 2009.
Phyllis and her husband were the proud parents of their three children who now survive them. They are C. Gary McFie and wife Barbara of Huachuca City, Arizona, Terry A. McFie of Portland, Oregon. Sharon A Friend and husband Roy of Portland, Oregon. They are, also, survived by six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. And some way they found the time to also provide a foster home for many others.
As a Mother to three children and foster mother to the world, she still maintained the spirit and heart of that of a high school cheerleader and social heart of the school. She was a lady with the heart of gold - as big as the state of Alaska.
While managing her home life, Phyllis had many careers and worked outside the home. She started as a bank teller and finished by managing businesses and keeping the books. But, her main focus was assisting her husband in following his dreams - and by his side the whole time.
Phyllis and her family experienced living on a diary farm, a horse ranch, and then city life. During each new adventurer, she displayed the strength, creativity and fortitude to make this world a better place for her loved ones.
Phyllis and her husband spent their final retirement years residing in Benson, AZ
They developed the title of snowbirds as they traveled back and forth from their prior home in Oregon. The final years of her life was dedicated solely to the care of her ailing husband. She has been lost without him and now hopefully rests in peace with him again.
Phyllis passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 20, 2010 while visiting her children in Portland, Oregon.
Names of surviving relatives:
Grandchildren-
Brenda Hecker,
Husband Greg
Bruce McFie,
Wife Ann
Steven McFie
Roy F. Friend, Jr
Wife Elma
Deborah McCray
Rebecca Lewis Friend
Husband, Sidney
Great Grandchildren-
Amanda Tobias
Anthony Hecker
Brittany Oxford-McFie
Kyle Oxford-McFie
Heidi Friend
Roy Friend
Amber McCray
Bryan McCray
Great-Great Grandchildren
Sadie Tobias
Brady Tobias
Other Surviving relatives:
Uncle – Lloyd Blackwelder and wife Leona
Cousins – John, Doug, Greg, Rod, Jay, Julie, Joan, and Chuck
Aunt – Nadine Lieske
Cousins – Mike Meidinger, Cheryl Romani, Jill Bangart, Mari Decker
And many other cousins that go unnamed.
Foster Son – William Rohr and wife June
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