Phyllis G. (Chapman) Kline

Phyllis G. Kline was born to Guy W. and Claire H. (French) Chapman on January 19, 1937 in Chappell, Nebraska. Phyllis died at Hillcrest Care Center February 11, 2018 at the age of 81.

Phyllis's father, Guy, was a cowboy. He was a horse trainer and that likely led to Phyllis's love of horses. In fact, later in her life she was still wishing she could have a horse outside her window at the nursing home.

Phyllis lived, until her marriage, in Ovid Colorado, as an only child, where her father started a Standard Oil filling station and grocery store, called Chapman's Market. Phyllis met the love of her life, Glen, possibly just because he moved in across the street from the market. This chance meeting led to more than 63 years of marriage.

Phyllis and Glen were married in Harrisburg Nebraska on December 3, 1954. Harrisburg was chosen because it was the closest town without a newspaper; knowledge of their marriage would have made it impossible for Phyllis to graduate from high school. Phyllis would graduate in 1955 and attend "Girls State" with the future Miss Colorado and Miss America, Marilyn Van Derbur, before joining her husband in Germany in the summer of 1955.

While supporting her husband's service assignment with the 62nd Military Police unit in Heidelburg Germany Glen and Phyllis welcomed their first son, Richard, on May 21, 1956. Glen, Phyllis, and Rich stayed in Germany until 1957 when Glen's enlistment was completed. On January 5, 1957, after paying the 21 dollar fee for his wife and son, they all departed Bremerhaven, Germany for New York by ship. They arrived January 16th to Fort Hamilton, NY with Phyllis suffering from sea sickness the entire trip or more probably "morning sickness."

On June 11, 1957 Glen Jr. was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Glen and Phyllis soon moved to Ovid, CO to take over Chapman's Market, after the death of Phyllis' mother. They promptly changed the name to Kline's market. They ran the market until Glen got a job with a bread delivery company in 1960. The family moved to Colby KS and then to Wray in 1961.

While in Wray Phyllis worked for the school system as a cook in the grade school. She also worked for the J.C. Penny company in downtown Wray and had one of the earliest credit cards from the store - with only a six digit number. Phyllis and Glen purchased a local cafe in 1970, renaming it Big Red's, where they worked together until their retirement.

Phyllis was proceeded in death by her husband Glen and her parents and in-laws. Also his sister-in-law Eunice Schoeneman and her husband Clarence.

Phyllis is survived by:

Her son Rich and wife, Paula.

Her son Glen and wife, Tracy.

Grandsons, JR (Glen) and wife, Charlesa. Nick and wife, Emily. Scott and wife, Courtnie. Chris and wife, Amber. Grandson Matt. Tyler and wife, Danielle. Grandson Kevin.

Great Grandchildren - Claire, Makenna, Blake, Ryan, Sienna, Cambell, Kiera, Ava, Corbin, Aiden, Brody, Owen, and baby Kline (due early March).

Phyllis is also survived by nephews, Jim & Mark Schoeneman , and niece Michele (and husband Bob) Sherman.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at New Life Christian Center in Eckley, Colorado with Pastor Glen Kline officiating. Inurnment will be held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be made to Hillcrest Care Center, 360 Canyon Ridge Drive, Wray, Colorado 80758.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.