Phyllis Patricia Wright was born November 8, 1916 in Coldwater, Kansas, daughter of John and Frances (Weber) Melcher. Her family moved to Manchester, Oklahoma where she attended school graduating with the Class of 1934.

On October 5, 1937, Phyllis was united in marriage with Joseph O. Wright in Manchester, Oklahoma. This union was blessed with three children: JoEllyn, William and Mary Jane.

They made their first home in Wichita, Kansas, where Phyllis attended cosmetology school. They began their life of farming together after moving to Medford, Oklahoma. In 1954, they settled on a farm near Manchester, Oklahoma.

Phyllis loved being a farm wife and homemaker. She was an excellent cook and you never left her table hungry. Fun was had by all at the monthly pitch games with the neighbors. She quilted with the Manchester ladies every week. She and Joe regularly attended dances at Capron on the weekends. They would travel to south Texas for the winters and purchased a house at Salt Plains so they could enjoy lake life in the summers.

In 1987, Phyllis and Joe celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and sadly 6 months later, Joe passed away. In 2016, Phyllis celebrated her 100th birthday and was blessed to have been able to share it with 5 generations of family. She was the true definition of a matriarch and her entire family always showed her the love and respect she deserved. Her traditions and values will live on through her family for many generations. She was truly the best mother, mother-in-law and grandmother anyone could ask for.

She was a devout member of St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church in Wakita, Oklahoma. Her faith was the building block to her strong family values. She always looked forward to serving her church in any way, one of her favorite things being helping with the annual turkey dinners. No matter where she was traveling, she always found a church to attend.

In 2013, Phyllis made the move from the farm to the Community Health Center apartments in Wakita. In 2014, she took a fall and moved into the nursing home where she enjoyed all the activities and the friendships she shared with the staff and residents, and became a member of CHC Century Club. In her early years, Phyllis worked in the kitchen at CHC and delivered the mail to the residents.

On October 6, 2017, Phyllis was re-united in Heaven with her parents; husband; brother and sister-in-law, Jay and June; daughter, JoEllyn Sanders; and son, Bill. She was also preceded in death by her furbabies: Sam, Tuffy, Brett and Princess.

Phyllis will be forever missed by her daughter, Mary Jane Collins; daughter-in-law, JoAnn Wright; her nephews and niece: Larry, John, Mike and Linda Melcher and their families; grandchildren: John Wright, Bob Wright (Adam), Brendon Christy (Kara), Doug Sanders (Kimberlee), Steve Sanders (Dawn), Kathy May, Michelle Sanders (John Bice), Joe Collins (Dulce) and Christina Collins; caretaker, Tena Shelton; 20 great-grandchildren: Brittany, Brandon, Casen, Emilee, Jacob, Olivia, Carson, Ava, Layne, Chance, Mason, Jasmine, Nik, Lauren, Will, Bobby, Ryan, Ethan, Trevor and Molly; 2 great-great grandchildren: Rylee and Kason; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Recitation of Rosary will be held 7:00 p.m. Friday and Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. Saturday, both at St. Mary Catholic Church in Wakita, OK. Burial will follow at the St. Peter & Paul Cemetery, south of Manchester.

Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Phyllis may be made to the St. Peter & Paul Cemetery or to Donor's Choice and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.