Phylis Ann Lee LeBlanc, 83, of Ord, died at 3:58 A.M., Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at her home in Mesa, Arizona. She was born October 10, 1940 in Ord, Nebraska, to John Henry and Helen Lee. Surviving Phylis are her brother Henry Lee; her son: James (Jim) Lee; her ten grandchildren; her eleven great grandchildren; her one great, great grandson; and her many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Phylis’s father, John Henry Lee, mother, Helen Lee, and son, Robert David Gray, Jr. preceded her in death.
Phylis was a longtime resident of both Arizona and Nebraska, but she lived all across the nation during her lifetime. Wherever Phylis was she sought out friendship and connection. She loved to be around people and thoroughly enjoyed a good laugh. While Phylis was particular with whom she would spend her time, she created many lasting relationships wherever she lived. Her most valued relationships were with her family, especially her cousins and brother, who shared many adventures and stories of the good old days. Many times, Phylis made trips back to her Nebraskan roots to connect with her relatives, young and old, for family reunions, North Loup Popcorn Days, and vacations.
Phylis’s life was centered around connection, which was often her greatest asset. However, it proved to be a liability for her though when it came to marriage. Phylis was married six times, spanning most of her lifetime. Even though she experienced great heartache in those relationships ending and hope in new ones forming, her desire to have meaningful and lasting companionship was a hallmark of her character.
Perhaps Phylis’s most well-known quality was her wit, which remained up until death. Phylis’s mind was extremely sharp, allowing her to engage in any conversation, but with her wit came a strong snark that was often subtle, unless she wanted it to be highly apparent. This was a result of her paired wit and humor, often producing a sarcastic Phylis who joked freely and had little she would hold back. She spoke her mind and there was no hidden agenda behind her words – her thoughts were never a mystery. In her frankness, Phylis still had a smile on her face and a laugh in her belly. One could not interact with Phylis without her cracking a joke or telling a story that was often ridiculous and comical. Her demeanor was light and joyous.
Phylis was an avid accountant who was most consistently known for her service from January until April 15th of each year during tax season. Her love for numbers and accounting came from her father who started his own tax preparation practice and enlisted Phylis’s help from an early age. Phylis grew her own clientele and eventually inherited many of her father’s longtime clients when he chose to hang up his visor. Her faithful tax preparation work continued up until her 80th year when she decided it was time for her too to hang up her visor. Throughout her years Phylis performed many different jobs and duties, but the work she always enjoyed was tax preparation.
Towards the end of her life Phylis heard the call of Nebraska once again. Phylis answered the call of the Cornhusker state by moving out to Fairbury to be in her home state once again and to be near to her cousin, Leroy. Phylis created many memories in her nearly ten years back in Fairbury, adding new friendships and sometimes causing trouble, as she was occasionally known to do. The final two years of her life would be spent back in Arizona though near to her family as her age began to catch up to her body.
At the very end of her life, unbeknownst to others at the time, she was asked by her son what the happiest time of her life was, in which she responded by saying when she graduated from high school. Phylis experienced the long sought-after freedom that she could exercise upon graduating from high school. Phylis was a free spirit and she pursued what she desired. While she posed a challenge as a child at times due to her strong will, her desire to make decisions was especially meaningful to her once she could chart her own path. Up until her final days, Phylis remained in the captain’s chair, continuing to exercise her decision-making power to steward the freedom she loved to have.
Phylis was a special woman who leaves behind a lasting legacy of laughter, memories, and love. Phylis loved her family and even though she did not vocalize it often in the most eloquent of terms, a glimmer in her eyes showed it to be true and clear. Her actions were intentional, and her final years close to her family proved to be a blessing both for her and for them. One could not interact with Phylis without coming away saying or thinking, “Oh, Phylis!” Whether it is through the retelling of the stories she told and retold or the memories that were created with her, Phylis’s memory will carry on across the generations she interacted. While Phylis’s departure was sudden and unexpected, the Lord knew when Phylis would put away her aging body and weakening mind. Her death does not pass without sadness though to all who knew her, for she was dearly loved and is greatly missed. Since the moment of her death, Phylis has resided with Jesus Christ in peace, praise, and perfect partnership with the beloved departed before her.
A viewing will precede the funeral service and it starts at 8:30 A.M. The funeral service will follow at 9:30 A.M. on Friday, February 16, 2024, at Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery, which is located at 7900 E Main St, Mesa. Following the service, the family will visit the burial site at the same location.