Phyllis Jean Schoonover was born February 16, 1932, in Tulsa, Oklahoma where Gladys and Thomas Schoonover had moved to find work. A few years after her birth the family moved back to Osceola where Thomas helped his father run a grocery and feed store.
She entered first grade at Osceola Public Schools and attended all 12 years. In 1936 Phyllis welcomed a little sister, Joyce and in 1945 another sister Karen. After their parents divorced, the three sisters became very close.
Phyllis worked part time to help support the family at the Civic Theater. After she graduated high school in 1950, Phyllis worked at the St. Clair County Public Library, which was still located in the courthouse.
She was saved at the age of 16, an joined the Osceola First Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher and was also a member of the choir. Phyllis was instrumental in organizing Youth For Christ in Osceola.
In 1952, Phyllis moved to Kansas City where she took a job as a secretary at Commercial Credit. In 1953 she married Bob Gover. She lived the rest of her life in the Kansas City area except for the 3 years in Dixon, MO, when Bob was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood.
Phyllis worked for Spencer Chemical Company as a private secretary, then for Gulf Oil after they purchased Spencer. In the 1970’s Gulf Oil moved their offices to Texas. Phyllis stayed in Kansas City and worked for Coca-Cola for a while before starting a job with Sprint which she stayed at until her retirement in 2001.
She loved to travel. Attend family reunion and enjoyed visiting with friends. Family members loved to play practical jokes on Phyllis, but nobody laughed harder than she did when the joke played itself out.
Phyllis survived breast cancer in the 1970’s, then was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October of 2016. After a valiant fight, she succumbed November 18, 2018.
She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Schoonover; her mother, Gladys Dyer; and step father, Alvin Dyer.
Phyllis is survived by 2 sisters, Joyce McLarry of Collins, MO, Karen Nickel and husband Flint, of Weaubleau, MO; 3 nephews, Greg McLarry and wife Nancy, of Collins, MO, Bill McLarry and wife Cindy, of Urich, MO, Gary McLarry and wife Joan, of Springfield, MO as well and many great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
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