Phyllis Jane Cooke

Phyllis Cooke, 87, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Monday, December 14, 2020.

Phyllis was born March 29, 1933 in Livingston County, MO to James Harold and Mina Elizabeth Evans Denham.  Raised in the small farming communities of Ludlow and Dawn, MO she was the eldest of 10 children.  She left the farm after high school to enter        Research School of Nursing where she earned her RN degree.  The next few years were spent working at Research Medical Center and the VA Medical Center in Kansas City before becoming a full-time mother and homemaker.

In Kansas City she met Harvey, the tall, handsome teacher, at a singles group at Community Christian Church on the Country Club Plaza and they were soon married.  Together they raised a son and daughter always instilling in them the importance of education, strong morals and faith.  Eventually four grandchildren came along and Phyllis couldn't have been happier.  She loved her grandchildren deeply and was always there to help care for them.  Phyllis was a wonderful seamstress and enjoyed singing in the church choir.  Study Club, Overland Park Christian Church Women's Circle and being involved in Steve & Pam's activities were some of her favorite pastimes.  Along with her homemaking duties, Harvey kept her busy fixing up and maintaining their rental properties for many years.

Her husband, Harvey J. Cooke, died January 6, 2016. She was also preceded in death by four siblings, Shirley Cook, Kathryn DuBois, Ron Denham and Jim Denham.

She is survived by her children, Pam (the late Charles) Engelken and Steve (Julia) Cooke; a sister, Carolyn Huff; brothers, David Denham, John Denham, Kenneth Denham and Bill Denham and her grandchildren, Stephanie Cooke, Mallory Cooke, Michael Engelken and Jaimie (Brian) Soetaert.

Funeral services will be Monday Dec. 21st at 11:30 am at the Overland Park Christian Church with burial following in Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. The service is being live streamed and may be viewed by clicking one of these links http://www.facebook.com/opccdoc or http://www.opccdoc.org/digital-funerals

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Overland Park Christian Church, Lumicare Hospice or to "The Steeple of Light" (Frank Lloyd Wright) restoration fund at Community Christian Church www.community-christian.org/steeple/