Phyllis G. Keating

Phyllis Genevieve Keating of Flora Vista NM was born August 29, 1926 in Dighton KS to James and Genevieve Mowery. She died October 12, 2018 in Aztec NM at age 92.

"I never met a man I didn't like." Will Rogers and our mother were kindred spirits. Her only amendment would have been, "I never met a soul I didn't welcome." Her inner light magically summoned people to be in her presence, a stronger charisma I never witnessed. She used a walker the last 20 years, a rather unusual tricycle model. To the stranger(s) attracted to her inner mounting flame, she would explain, "I like to talk a lot, this is 'Blue', my walker, so you can call me 'Walkie-Talkie'!" I'm sure there are more than a few of you reading this who met her in passing but never were formally introduced.  You were charmed/uplifted by the encounter and are now thinking, "Oh yeah, that cute, little ol' lady I laughed with in Wal-Mart. She had the three wheeler - Walkie-Talkie!"

I am her oldest son, Patrick, and was privileged to be her caregiver for 18 years and nine days. I've received compliments from many on how I took care of her. Lest you think me immodest, I had the easiest duty of any in the 'Care Corps'. I would answer my admirer with a standard reply, "Ah shucks, it ain't hard taking care of an angel."

Mom is survived by her three children, Patrick, Kevin (Carol and their three children), and Shannon (Patricia and their two children). Rounding out the lineage are six great-grandchildren with a pair of great-grandchild twins currently under construction. I'm not forgetting those thousands of smiling, anonymous souls left behind.

Mother's accomplishments in her seven decades of adulthood were baccalaureate degrees from Colorado Womans College and Kansas University. She performed in summer stock during her college years. Lucille Ball was her makeup teacher in one stint. Her one and only love was our father, Wes, a successful municipal banker. Their 47 year union ended by his passing. She has missed him for 22 years but is now happily reunited. During her young married years, she practiced as a speech pathologist at the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita KS. She was active in the Junior League, a civic-minded women organization, in both Wichita and Denver. She performed as a puppeteer on local Wichita television and at a national puppeteers convention, she met Jim Henson and his little green friend, Kermit, before Kermit had made his national debut. She loved animals (ran her own business, a dog grooming shop in Evergreen CO) so she husbanded numerous dogs, cats, fish and one myna bird through the decades. But, if asked what she was she would have responded with, "I'm a homemaker, taking care of my husband and children." Period.

Thanks mom, you did a great job.

A memorial service will be held at the Good Samaritan Care Facility Chapel in Aztec NM at 10:00 A.M. this Thursday, October 18. Friends, please come and celebrate her life with us. You smiling strangers? Come and be her friends in Peace.

Phyllis’s care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St., in Farmington, NM., (505)325-8688.