CLASS OF 1952 APRIL 27, 1933 - APRIL 6, 2011 Phyllis Jean Day, 77, died April 6, 2011, at the University of Kansas Hospital after a brief illness. She was born on the family farm just south of Osawatomie on Aug. 27, 1933, to Gladys and Clarence Day. While on the farm she must have learned her love for the land and animals, as she was a lifelong gardener and pet owner. She graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1952 and three years later married Joseph Ward. They moved to Manhattan where Joseph completed veterinary school. They then moved to Missoula, Mont., where Joseph completed his veterinary residency. Shortly afterward they moved to California where the family grew. Tragically, Joseph died in a car accident in 1967, leaving Phyllis with four children to raise. She remarried in 1969 to Bill Gates. That marriage ended. She continued to live in California working for the Press Enterprise Newspaper until her retirement in 1993. She pursued extra education focusing on photography, even creating a darkroom in the bathroom of her home, as one of her children recalled. In 2005, she moved back to Osawatomie with her friend and caregiver, Jonné Stauffers. She immediately became involved as a docent at the John Brown Cabin Historical Site in Osawatomie and continued to pursue her love of gardening, earning the title of Master Gardener. She was an avid reader, always having a book or something she was “working on,” as well as making “crazy quilts” for friends and family, gardening and working at the cabin. She was always involved in finding ways to help others by sharing food and items she had received. She had a big infectious smile and hug for everyone. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Ward, and her sister, Lois. She is survived by her four children, Aaron of Texas, and Amy, Bruce, and Becky of California. She also has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who carry on the torch of life. Phyllis was cremated and the ashes will be scattered at sea. A memorial service was conducted by the Rev. Michael Herriges of the Gardner Evangelical Friends Church, a nephew by marriage, Saturday at Spring Grove Friends Church in rural Osawatomie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Adair Cabin/John Brown Memorial in the City Park of Osawatomie. |