Phyllis Joan Holmes

Preceded in death by her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Richardson and Mr. & Mrs. Blankley; parents, Lester Alvin Blankley and Merle Edyth (Richardson) Blankley; and brother, John Blankley.

Survived by her sisters, Marie (Lowell) Schissler of San Mateo, CA and Sharon (LD) Alderson of Mitchell, NE; son, Robert (Toni) Holmes of Derby, KS; daughter, Kim (David) Holmes-Loman of Oklahoma City, OK; grandsons, Jonathan Holmes (Michelle Caban) and Christopher Holmes both of Wichita, KS; great-granddaughter, Chloe Holmes of Derby, KS; great-great-grandson, Sawyer A. Holmes of Derby, KS; nieces, Lorraine (Blankley) Dickes of Loveland, CO, Launa Gullikson of Roseville, CA, LeAnn Chrestensen of Windsor, CO, and Leslie Ramos of Gering, NE; and nephew, John Michael Blankley of Berthoud, CO.

Phyllis grew up on a farm near Marion, KS, where she attended a one room schoolhouse for 8 years (post-depression, dust bowl and World War II) with 1 brother and 2 sisters. She graduated Marion High School in 1952. Attended St. Francis School of Nursing, graduating in 1955 with Honorable Mention. Married Robert D. Holmes September 4, 1955; divorced in 1982 (he preceded her in death in 1990).

While working in Pediatrics, she attended Wichita School of Anesthesia at St. Francis Hospital from 1963-1965 to become a CRNA Nurse Anesthetist. She managed to complete her education while raising 2 children. She worked as a Nurse Anesthetist for 2 years under Dr. Dale Lloyal at St. Francis Hospital, then took a position as Nurse Anesthetist at the VA Hospital in Wichita, KS. Where she remained for 40 years. While at the VA Hospital, she was head of the Anesthesia Department for 20 of her 40 years.

After retirement, Phyllis was active auditing classes at WSU and was a “decent” bowler with several 200 plus games at the age of 73. She and her friends were avid WSU Men’s Basketball supporters, attending almost all home games for years. She was a life-long member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

At Phyllis’ request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Wichita Humane Society, where she adopted both of her cats over a 25 year span. She was very attached to her Siamese cats, Babe and Miss Priss, both of which preceded her in death.

Phyllis wants to remind everyone, “she was great at giving advice, asked for or not”. She will be missed.

A come and go visitation will be available from 5:00PM to 8:00PM, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 E. 13th Street N., Wichita, KS 67206.

Funeral Service will be held at Lakeview Funeral Home and Cemetery, January 6, 2023 at 3:00PM, followed by refreshments at Life.Church East in Wichita, 338 N. 127th Street E., Wichita, KS 67206.