Phyllis Jane Davis

Phyllis Jane Davis, known to family and friends as Pepper, was born on February 21, 1940 in Hagerstown, Maryland to Henry and Elma Ready. Pepper passed away quietly in her Phoenix home, at age 83 on October 14, 2023.

Pepper graduated from Mountain Lakes High School in 1957 in New Jersey. She then went on to attend Oberlin College in Ohio where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education in 1963. In 1965, she began a family and moved to Arizona where she continued to teach physical education in elementary and high schools in Phoenix. While continuing to raise her family, Pepper completed her Master’s Degree in Counseling at Arizona State University in 1983 and began a new career as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Pepper’s warm loving spirit, intuition and compassion for others, contributed to her being a highly respected professional. She assisted individuals, couples and families for thirty- two years, retiring in 2015.

During her career, Pepper pursued advanced training through the Cotter Institute in Phoenix and developed life -long relationships with other practicing professionals. In addition, she served in two professional organizations. She was a clinical member and a board member of the Arizona Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She also represented this organization by serving on the State Board of Behavioral Examiners. This organization certified and later licensed professionals practicing in Arizona. She was an avid tennis player and formed many long- term relationships with teammates at the Phoenix Tennis Center. Pepper loved sports, traveling, hiking, reading, music and spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by Dan Wright, her spouse of seventeen years, her daughters Melissa Loughran (Rob) Charlotte Freebury (Mark), her stepdaughters Renae Wright, Alicia Richardson (Terry). She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Elise, Ben, and Eve Loughran; and her brother Chuck Ready (Carolyn). She was preceded in death by her parents. Pepper’s heart was huge, and she was loved by many.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Pepper’s name to Ryan’s House.