Diane Pearson Mackey's memories of Phyllis

Phyllis was born into Grandma's family as the third girl after Anna and Olive.

She was always quite a challenge to Grandma and Grandpa because she marched to the beat of her own drummer.

She was a self taught and accomplished cultured individual in many areas such as medicine, history, the visual arts, music and even politics. Phyllis worked as a secretary in the law profession and many later years in the medical world. She retired from the UCLA Medical School as the Office Manager and Secretary to the Chairman of Head and Neck Surgery. Always being inquisitive and curious even in her late eighties, AND without her sight, listened and learned from television college classes.

Phyllis was a very accomplished sculptress, her medium being clay after which she cast her pieces in bronze. Her Granddaughters were fortunate enough to inherit busts of their likeness.

I have fond memories of Phyllis the last ten years of her life when she lived in Albuquerque. My husband and I would take her out to lunch many times in our truck. Charlie would carry a step stool in the back of the truck, take it out and place it for her to step on, and with a further boost get her into the front seat. She was VERY petite. Off we would go to Chile's for her favorite burger.!

We enjoyed a lot of laughs in those days.

Phyllis suffered terribly the last few years of her life. However, she was brave and never complained. Her son Rod and her grandson Marcus were her constant loving caretakers. She was a courageous and strong woman. It is my honor to pay tribute to her on her birthday.