Phyllis Rene (Barham) Tallman, age 89, of The Woodlands, passed away Wednesday, August 9th at her home after a lengthy illness. She was born May 10, 1934, in Wewoka, Oklahoma to parents Newsom and Melba Barham. She moved with her family to Huntington Park, California in early childhood, and graduated from Huntington Park High School in 1951. Throughout her youth, she enjoyed dancing, especially ballet and tap. After high school she worked as a secretary for Norris-Thermador. On November 15, 1958, she married the love of her life, Don Tallman and the adventure began. They continued living in Southern California, where they had their daughters, Lisa and Linda. In 1968, their family moved to Katonah, New York, and then on to Houston in 1969.
After being a homemaker and raising her daughters, Phyllis worked as an Executive Secretary in the Oil & Gas Industry before deciding to go back to college in 1984. She attended the University of Houston, and in 1987 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Following graduation, she worked in Human Resources for Riviana Foods, where she retired in 1999.
Phyllis enjoyed her Ashley Greens community and her many friends in Bridge Club, Book Club, and Gourmet Club. She enjoyed watching the Food Network and cooking and entertaining in her home. Phyllis also loved decorating and interior design and she enjoyed doing home projects. Education was very important to her, leading her to sponsor scholarships at Lone Star College in The Woodlands. She and Don loved to travel and enjoyed their four grandkids and three great grandkids.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Jerry Barham. She is survived and will be missed by her husband Don, brother Hal Barham and wife Marcia, sister-in-law Judy Barham, daughter Lisa Matthys, daughter Linda Frazier and husband Tracy, four grandkids Brady Frazier and wife Thuy, Travis Frazier and fiancé Lydia, Loriann Ryan and husband Wes, and Adriana Matthys, and three great grandkids Ford, Liam, and Maren.
The family would like to, especially, thank the caregivers from Family Tree Private Care for their support of Phyllis and the family during the last few months.
Services for Phyllis will be Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home located at 18000 I-45 South, The Woodlands, Texas 77384. A celebration of her life will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Grand Hall with interment following in the Forest Park The Woodlands Cemetery. After the service, the family would like for you to join them for a reception in the R. L. Wood Event Room.
Please share your fond memories and kind expressions of sympathy for the family at forestparkthewoodlands.com.
Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home is honored to serve this family.
