Phyllis McPherson Smith

Phyllis McPherson Smith passed away on March 18 in her home, surrounded by family. Her strength, courage, and beautiful smile will never be forgotten.

On May 20, 1927, Phyllis Ilene was born to Robert Leroy and Maymie Ingabee Hutchinson in North Platte, Nebraska. Her childhood and teenage memories were full of love and happiness as she grew up with her two brothers, Donald and Richard, her sister Shirley, and many cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents.

After her first year in college, Phyllis married Ralph Wilmer McPherson and started a family with their 3 children: John, Joan, and Jamie. They lived in Lincoln, then North Platte, Nebraska, later moving to Cave Junction, Oregon, and eventually found their way to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Phyllis spent the next 61 years of her life. During this time, she became a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne.

In 1965, Ralph passed away after a long battle with cancer. Phyllis raised her three teenage children alone, and for the next 19 years, worked and surrounded herself with her family, her church family and her friends, many who often got together to play bridge.

In 1984, Phyllis married Dr. Robert G Smith, who shared with her a wonderful stepdaughter, Lisa, and stepson Scott. After 10 short years of happy marriage, Robert passed away in 1994.

Phyllis worked as the the office manager at the Wyoming Travel Commission until she retired in 1986, then for a short time as secretary for First Presbyterian Church, and helped her husband, Robert, in his dental practice.

In 2019, Phyllis moved to Casper, Wyoming where she shared a home with her daughter and their cat and 2 dogs.

Phyllis is survived by her brother Richard and her sister Shirley; sons John (Penny) McPherson, Jamie (Judy) McPherson, daughter Joan Miller Branham, and stepdaughter Lisa (Shawn) Powell; 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Ralph and Robert, her brother Donald, and her stepson, Scott.

A family burial service will be held later this year.