Phyllis Mae Scarlett, 91, formerly of Valley Center KS, passed away Monday, March 27, 2023 at Presbyterian Manor Newton Kansas. She was born May 2, 1931, in rural Atchison County KS to James and Luella (Robinson) Cowley, the youngest of three children.
Phyllis married Richard Loren Scarlett April 26, 1952. He passed away
November 27, 2006, after 54 years of marriage.
Raised on a farm, she enjoyed working and being outside. She attended a one-room schoolhouse known as Prairie View for grade school and graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1949. Moving to Topeka, KS after graduation she worked at the State Department of Social Welfare. Richard was in the army, stationed at Fort Riley, and after their marriage she worked for the Federal Government Selective Services, Department of the Army. They later moved to California for 5 years, Arkansas for 2 years before eventually returning to Kansas where they lived in Topeka, Manhattan, Valley Center, Wichita and finally back to Valley Center. During her years back in Kansas she worked in various clerical positions, one of her favorites being The Better Book Room in Wichita.
She enjoyed many different activities and hobbies: As member of the First United Methodist Church in Valley Center she enjoyed participating in several groups and bible study; camping, traveling and playing games with family and friends; square dancing with Sunburst Squares; reading, puzzles, playing the organ and embroidering. Before moving to Presbyterian Manor, she lived a quarter mile up the road from Donnie and Debbie. While there she would ride through the cattle with Debbie on a side-by-side several times a day to check for any cows that were close to calving. Another farm chore she enjoyed while there was feeding the barn cats, and actually took in one of their kittens, a calico she named PeeWee to live in the house with her.
Survivors include Debbie Hamilton (Donnie) of rural Newton, KS. Also surviving are granddaughter Melissa Hamilton (fianc6 Jason Smith), and step grandson Kyle Redinger of Park City KS, and 3 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Marjorie (Marj) Gilliland and a brother, Ralph Cowley.
Family will greet friends one hour before the service. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church, Valley Center. Burial will follow at the Valley Center Cemetery. ln lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First United Methodist Church Valley Center or Caring Hands Humane Society of Newton, c/o Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway St., Newton, KS 67714