Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Phyllis Eileen Blythe                                         Age: 86

Date of Death: May 10, 2015

Place of Death: Great Bend Regional Hospital, Great Bend, Kan.

Date of Birth: June 16, 1928 at Williamsburg, Kan., the daughter of Clyde E. and Ruth (Decker) Todd

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

She married Donald N. Blythe August 6, 1948 at Williamsburg, Kansas.

Phyllis was a member of 4-H and the Civil Air Patrol during high school. She attended Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia from 1946 to 1950, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Her first teaching assignment was as a second grade teacher at Coldwater Elementary from 1950 to 1951. The couple moved to San Diego, Calif., during the Korean Conflict while Don served in the United States Navy.  In 1952, they moved to Great Bend and she operated a daycare from 1960 to 1970. She returned to the classroom in 1970, teaching sixth grade at Eisenhower and Park Elementary Schools, retiring in 1985.  From 1986 to 1989 she worked at the YMCA of the Rockies, returning to Great Bend in 1990. She enjoyed spending winter months in Mesa, Ariz.

A gracious, kind-hearted soul who knew no strangers, Phyllis touched many lives during her years as a teacher. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, playing golf and cards, was a killer shuffle board player, as well as enjoyed camping and traveling.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Silver Cougar Club, and Barton County Association of Retired School Personnel, all of Great Bend, and Theta Sigma Upsilon Sorority at Emporia.

 

SURVIVORS

husband of 66 years, Donald N. Blythe, of the home

three sons: Jerry Blythe and his wife Susan of Colstrip, Mont., Neal Blythe and his wife Sheryl of Westminster, Colo., and Kent Blythe and his wife Jeanne of Longmont, Colo.

two daughters: Jean Allen and her husband Bruce of Carrollton, Texas, and Karen Kotzman and her husband Greg of Shawnee, Kan.

one sister: Patty Gentry of Waverly, Kan.

grandchildren: fourteen

great-grandchildren: nine

 

She was preceded in death by one son, Rodney Ray Blythe.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

A private family inurnment will be held in Great Bend Cemetery.  There will be no services.  Memorials are requested to American Heart Association, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

 

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net