March 28, 1929 ~ April 17, 2018
Phyllis Jean Jenkins, 89, of Rockwall, Texas passed away April 17, 2018 after a prolonged illness.
Phyllis was born March 28, 1929 in Sawyer, Kansas to Cecil and Helen Tefertiller. At the age of 9 she moved to Slaton, Texas. She graduated from Slaton High School in 1947 and later that year moved to Wichita, Kansas. There she met Bill Jenkins and they were married June 9, 1951. Bill's job with the Missouri Pacific Railroad/Union Pacific Railroad took them from Wichita to DeQuincy, Louisiana and Palestine, Texas. While Bill worked in varying railroad company capacities, Phyllis fulfilled the primary role of homemaker and Mom in raising their four children. She created a warm, welcoming home for their children as well as a gathering place for their children's friends. Many of those friends were always happy to have the opportunity to enjoy "Phyllis's lasagna"!
Phyllis was indeed a great Mom, wife and gifted homemaker. Her passions in her "Mom years" were cooking, baking and entertaining. She also loved her collections of coins, stamps and Hummel figurines. In retirement, she and Bill loved to travel. They spent many of their retirement years travelling and then living in Scranton, Pennsylvania; Georgetown, Colorado; Williams, Arizona; Tyler, Texas; Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and Rockwall, Texas.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Jo Ann Clark, Arlene Brand, Bob Tefertiller and Sue Love.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 67 years, Bill Jenkins of Rockwall, Texas; children, Jeff and Stella Jenkins, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Bill and Debi Jenkins, Magnolia, Texas; Patrice and David Taylor, Whitehouse, Texas; Patti and Phillip Couch, Rockwall, Texas; grandchildren Grant Jenkins, Justin Jenkins, Ben and Shonie Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Alex and Anthony Chavez, Josh Jenkins, Jessica Taylor, Brian Taylor and Caroline Couch; great grandchildren Grayson Jenkins, Everly Jenkins, Zackary Chavez, Leo Chavez, Ryan Taylor and Logan Taylor; siblings Duane and Carolyn Tefertiller, Amarillo, Texas; Jerry and Sophia Tefertiller, Pyote, Texas; Webber Tefertiller, Las Vegas, Nevada; and Jane Cornejo, Amarillo, Texas; aunt, Doris Pooler, Westminister, California; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Phyllis will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Gideons International (www2.gideons.org), P. O. Box 140800, Nashville, TX 37214-0800.
Published in Examiner-Enterprise from Apr. 22 to May 21, 2018