Phyllis Kenyon

Former Kearney resident, Phyllis Loraine Kenyon, 90, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village, Hastings, Nebraska.

Services will be Tuesday, December 23, 2014; 11:00 A.M. at First Lutheran Church, 3315 Avenue G, Kearney, Nebraska with Pastor Eric Lesher and Pastor Dale Phillips officiating. Burial will be Tuesday, December 23, 2014; 2:00 P.M. in Minden Cemetery, Minden, Nebraska. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 23, 2014; 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. at the church. Memorials may be given to the Phyllis L. Kenyon Memorial Fund.

Phyllis Loraine Kenyon was born in Hastings, Nebraska on May 1, 1924, to Gust and Alvena (Johannesen) Soterin. In early childhood, the family moved to Minden, Nebraska, where Phyllis finished elementary and high school, graduating in 1942. She worked at Warp Publishing Company and then in the offices at the Kearney Air Base in the War Communications and Hospital divisions. There she met her future husband Eugene Vern Kenyon of Deloit, Iowa, who was in the U.S. Army. They were married in Paris, Texas, on November 18, 1944, prior to his service overseas. When Gene returned to the States, Phyllis joined him at military bases in Mississippi and Pennsylvania where she continued to do secretarial work on the military bases. After Gene's discharge from the Army, the couple moved to Minden, Nebraska and had a daughter, Nancy Jean, and later a son, Michael Gregg. For a few years, Phyllis was a fulltime homemaker. Gene was a carpet and tile installer, which moved the family to Broken Bow, Grand Island, and eventually to Kearney where they settled for the next 45 years. Phyllis then worked for many years as office manager at Johnson Medical Clinic and later at Kearney Clinic as head of their insurance department. She retired to care for her husband. Gene died April 10, 1996 after a long struggle with lung disease. They had celebrated 52 years of marriage. A Lutheran Church member all of her life, Phyllis participated in Gloria Circle, worship greeter, Prayer Child, office volunteer, Communion committee, and visits to the homebound. Her faith, church friends, and service there brought her great joy. In addition, Phyllis stayed busy holding offices in Eastern Star, attending Senior exercise and card clubs, serving as a hospital Pink Lady, and walking their beloved Sheltie, Sheba. After being widowed in 1996, she traveled with family to Washington State, Arizona, Chicago, England and France. Phyllis treasured time with family, especially her three grandchildren Sarah, Kate, and Libby. Whether a birthday, school program, holiday, or "just because," Grammie was always there with a sweet smile, gentle hug, and homemade cookies. From 2008 to 2010 Phyllis lived in the Regency Retirement Apartments in Hastings and then briefly at Prairie View Assisted Living in Kearney. After two serious falls she required skilled care nursing and moved to Perkins Pavilion in Hastings where she has resided for the past three years.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene; parents; brother, Lloyd Soterin; and sister, Bonnie Boomershine.

SURVIVORS:
Daughter:
Nancy Jean & Jim Guthmann - Hastings, NE
Son:
Michael Gregg Kenyon & Debra Ann Broadfoot - Grant's Pass, OR
Sisters:
Joan Murr - Kearney, NE
Deloris & Ray Cook - Sanger, TX
Granddaughters:
Sarah Christine Scheer - Hillsborough, NJ
Katherine Loraine Guthmann - Hastings, NE
Elizabeth Jean & Joseph Peart - Chicago, IL
Great-Granddaughter:
Margaret Elizabeth Peart - Chicago, IL
Sisters-in-law:
Arley Goodwin - Centennial, CO
Carol Kenyon - Shenandoah, IA
Many nieces & nephews