Phyllis Jean Bull's Obituary
In her early childhood years, during WWII, Phyllis lived in Wichita with her parents & baby brother, Wayne. Clyde and Bernice owned and operated a 24 hour restaurant, serving many Boeing employees. In 1945, when she was seven years old, the family moved to a farm near Marion, KS. Phyllis attended a one room country school, Pleasant View. During her elementary school years, many happy memories were made with cousins, aunts and uncles who came to visit and play croquet on the special court her father built. The attic of the farmhouse was the “hang out” for the kids, where she, Wayne and cousins Lavonne and Thelma played Monopoly. She and the other kids were excited when Uncle Jake came, because he brought pop!
A special trip for Phyllis and Wayne, at 8 and 10 years old, was a train ride on the “Doodle Bug” line from Marion to Lehigh to visit Uncle Sam and Aunt Helen. Traveling without Mom and Dad was exciting for her and Wayne.
Then, in 7th grade, they sold the farm and bought Thies Food Center in Marion. Phyllis helped by stocking shelves, eating lots of over-ripe bananas and drinking pop from the store! She gained close girlfriends from the Christian Church and school, where she enjoyed playing clarinet in the band. After living for a while above the grocery store, the family moved to a big four bedroom house next door. Her mother, from a large family, hosted meals nearly every Sunday. Phyllis was her right hand helper, setting the table and helping serve guests.
After high school graduation in 1956, she attended Phillips University, Enid, OK. where she met Robert Bull. After her sophomore year, she and Bob married in the Marion Christian Church, June 15, 1958. After their honeymoon, they lived in Enid.
Living a short time in Wichita, the couple moved to Oklahoma City and eventually Okmulgee, OK. During these years, they adopted Darrell (1965) and Renee (1967). Phyllis enjoyed church friends, playing cards with couples, traveling with family, and especially visits when family played Pinochle for hours. Everyone always enjoyed Phyllis’ sense of humor and signature giggle.
After Bob retired from teaching at OSU Technical College, Okmulgee, they moved to Broken Arrow, OK. Phyllis especially treasured her two grandchildren, Madeline and Mitchell, as they grew up close by in Jencks, OK. When Bob passed away in 2012, Phyllis moved to Bartlesville, OK to be near Renee. Shortly after her move, Renee died of cancer at age 47. Phyllis continued to live at Green Country Village and treasured visits from family, especially Darrell, who travelled from Houston to see her.
Internment at Floral Haven in Broken Arrow, OK will occur October 14.
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