Honoring the Life and Legacy of
Phyllis Brooksby Anderson
Obituary
Phyllis Brooksby Anderson was born on November the 13th, 1939 and passed away on July 6th, 2021 at the age of 81 in La Paz, Mexico. Phyllis was born in Flagstaff Arizona to the family of Clarence and Dorothy Brooksby.
Predeceased by her father, mother, and her brother Russell, Phyllis is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years Bernard (Barney), son Eric and his wife Rebecca, daughter Kristen, son Ross, and grandchildren Sierra, Etta, and Mabel.
Her parents were respected teachers in the Flagstaff school system. Phyllis’s mother Dorothy became a well-known national educator with the National Educators Association (NEA) and lived in Washington D.C. Dorothy passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s in Durango Colorado.
Phyllis grew up in Flagstaff and attended Arizona State College which has since become Northern Arizona University. She was a proud member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority of said college and she made many, many wonderful friends there.
She met Bernard Anderson, from Modesto, California, on a double date with her fellow sorority sisters in 1958. Barney Anderson was a very handsome lad. They soon fell in love and were married shortly after.
Phyllis and Barney spent their entire lives teaching. Phyllis’s early years were spent as an educator. She completed her Masters degree in Special Education at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She and Barney then moved to Columbus Ohio where Barney attended The Ohio State University where he received a PhD in Economics.
Phyllis and Barney were a perfect couple because they both shared the same passion for teaching. Phyllis taught special education at both Smiley Junior High and Durango High School, and then English as a second language to Chinese students in Shanghai China.
They both loved to volunteer their time, especially after retirement, and spent a summer hammering nails alongside Jimmy and Rosalind Carter with Habitat for Humanity, before spending a year traveling across the world as senior Education Advisors with the internationally known educational organization Up with People.
Upon retirement they both moved to Mexico to the city of La Paz. They loved to drink margaritas on the Malecon, and they enjoyed many, many chiles rellenos.
A celebration of Phyllis’s Life will be held by her loved ones on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021.
Celebration of Life & Reception for
Phyllis Brooksby Anderson
Recorded Tuesday, October 5th, 2021
The Anderson family invites you to view the virtual celebration of life service & reception honoring our dear Phyllis.
Phyllis Anderson Slideshow
Please enjoy this slideshow. It contains precious moments from Phyllis’ life surrounded by those she loved so dearly.
Photo Gallery
Slideshow From Facebook
Eulogy
by Eric Anderson, Phyllis’s son:
Dear friends, I am sorry to write here that Phyllis Anderson passed away Tuesday morning, July 6 2021, in La Paz, Mexico. After 80 years, her enormous heart finally decided it was time, and she passed quietly in her sleep. I’ve tried multiple times over the past week to write this announcement, but I’ve struggled to put into words what this sort of a loss represents. She’s been my mom for 56 years. Fifty-six years. The hole left in the wake of her passing is hard for me to reconcile.
- Some things that do bear saying:
Mom was never sparing with her love. She loved and loved and loved and loved and loved. If you and I are friends, then you can rest assured that she loved you. Those people that I loved, or who loved me, she cherished. Right up until the end of her life, she remembered all the people she’d met, and would beam whenever I provided her an update on anyone. Love was mom’s default setting.
Mom loved to laugh. I firmly believe that life without laughter is simply a waste of time, and it was she and my dad together who not only taught that to me, but lived it, Every Single Day of their lives. Mom in particular reminded me over and over that I get to choose how to react to the slings and arrows that come with life. (I’m still learning that one, but she mastered it a long time ago.) She read Norman Vincent Peale and listened to Wayne Dyer and beat into our heads the Power of Positive Thinking and reminded us constantly that you can never, ever ‘should’ve.’
Mom wasn’t afraid of anything, and she gave 100% to everything she did. When we were young, she taught a classroom of kids with a variety of mental disabilities – then came home to her own crazy family each night filled with endless energy. She and my dad designed and built the first house in Falls Creek Ranch, 20 miles outside of Durango, Colorado (and 1000 feet higher in elevation, which meant double the snow), and she lived for over two decades in that house alongside two boa constrictors and two pythons – 4 snakes 8-10 feet long – mice, rats, rabbits (all food for the snakes), cats, a dog, horses – and then said yes when we wanted to add a raccoon to the mix.
She followed my dad to China and taught English to Chinese kids in Shanghai in her 50’s. She climbed Uluru in Australia with dad and I when she was 60 years old without any assistance and then five years AFTER that she and my dad went on the road for a year with Up with People, keeping up with an international cast of 100 young people a third of her age as they traveled throughout the world. Then came Mexico, and when my dad fell in love with the wonderful Mexican people in La Paz, she shared that love too.
At her very core, mom BELIEVED in all of us – in everyone around her. She believed in the very best version of me, and that unflinching, never-a-doubt-in-her-mind belief has provided me the confidence throughout my life to do things that I might not otherwise have thought myself capable of.
- Now she’s gone.
So, you see what I mean when I say that the hole left behind is a big one. It’s going to take some time to adjust, and I wish so badly for my dad – who’s lost the love of his life after over 60 incredible years of constant adventure together – that she was still here.
But I think I know what she’d say now to all of us if she were still here. She’d say that we all have a time to live and a time to die, and only the time in between to make the best of what we have. And she’d tell all of us – dad, me, Kristen, Ross and all of the rest of us – not to waste too much time looking backwards, when so much adventure lies ahead. She’d remind us again that we can never should’ve, and then she’d smile, and hug us, and tell us again how much she loved us. And then shoo us out the door.
Thanks mom. Thanks for 56 years of everything a son could ask for. I love you.
Now rest.
In Lieu Of Flowers Please Consider Donating To: The Grief Center of Southwest Colorado
The Grief Center of SW Colorado stemmed off of the Mercy Hospice organization that Phyllis worked with in Durango, CO. Phyllis was the Volunteer Coordinator there and facilitated training, pairing hospice patients with volunteers, and support for those volunteer pairs. She always had a “person” who was a hospice patient whom she, herself, volunteered with during their time in hospice helping them and their families through this transition of life. She loved this job and the people she worked with and for. The people of Mercy Hospice stemmed off to create the Grief Center of SW Colorado in 2017 and now supports the SW Communities of Durango and the surrounding areas with bereavement services for adults, teens, children and families.
Your Donation to The Grief Center of Southwest Colorado beautifully honors Phyllis’ memory and the cause she loved so dearly. The Grief Center of Southwest Colorado is a registered non-profit and a 501c3 tax-exempt organization
I knew Phyllis and Barney from church. I had Eric in my fifth grade class. Our son, Jens, was a classmate of Ross in kindergarten and they became good friends. One night Ross spent the night at our house and he and Jens went into Jens’s bedroom and came out dressed alike. They were both sure we would not be able to tell them apart. Jens, a very blond young man of Scandinavian descent and Ross a very dark haired Indian young man were sure they were identical twins That was a joyous moment for me and I knew Barney and Phyllis would be like me and not be able to tell them apart. We hosted Up With People every summer and were delighted when Eric joined. Little did we know it would be a tong term adventure for him. My daughter, IngaLIsa, took dance lessons with Kristen. Our family had so many connections and always had a good time together. Phyllis and I, both teaching for 9R, had lots to talk about. Phyllis would always focus on the good in whatever trials befalls a teacher. She was up with people with a smile and and encouraging word long before there was Up With People.
I will miss lunches and dinners out with Phyliss and Barney. We always had so much fun and lots of laughter. Phyliss was a precious and loving person, who’s strength and positive attitude was admirable. She always had a smile on her face and a big hug every time I saw her. I loved her very much and will treasure the time we were able to spend together ❤️
Phyllis inspired everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.
Phyllis was a person who emoted love!
EA, I’ll never forget meeting your mom at your surprise 50th birthday party. It was such an honor to meet your folks. At the end of the evening, your mom took my hand and wanted to show me a photo downstairs in the basement. She put her hands on my cheeks, and slowly and carefully said, “You have… the best… smile!” Your mom touched my heart that night, like she did with so many others.
You and I have known each other for nearly 20 years. I don’t know the right words to say and I’ve started typing in this guest book so many times now, but words are never enough during times like this. I can’t even begin to understand the hole in your heart right now. But I do understand the depth of your love for your folks, because I have the same for mine. And I know how proud that your mom was of you and your beautiful family, because I saw it that evening. She had a light and a love that will be with you forever. Love you.
Barney and family, Our deepest sympathy to you and yours. Phyllis was a dear friend at ASC. We sincerely hope, in time, the sad memories will be replaced with all the happy ones.
Our best to you all. With love, Gary and CJ
sending prayers of comfort and peace. Much love from Kevin and Barbie Anderson
Psalm 34:18 God is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
Sending heartfelt condolences to Eric, Barney, and all of Phyllis’ loved ones during this difficult time. May the memories of a lifetime bring you strength and peace.
Sad to hear news of Aunt Phyllis’ passing. Prayers and good intentions for Barney, Eric, Kristen and Ross from our family.
I’m so sorry for the loss of Aunt Phyllis.
Phyllis,
I felt the enormity of your kind soul the first minute I met you. From the heartwarming smile you gave so freely to the joy your presence brought to every room you entered, you’re missed dearly.
I mean, who would choose to leave the dinner table to go sit on the floor with my sick dog after hearing he wouldn’t eat for 2 days? Phyllis f’n Anderson. That’s who.
One of a kind.
Dear Ross, Eric,Kristen and all the family.
Sorry to hear about the passing of your mum.
What a beautiful soul your mum was.
My thoughts and prayers for all of you at this time. A mother’s love can never be replaced.
Regards
Paul Carroll
EA, my heart aches for you and your family. What a beautiful tribute to your beautiful Mom. Your mom had the unique and rare quality of making you feel immediately accepted and like you were home the moment you met her, and my memory of her is that she was always either beaming with a big smile or laughing until she cried over something ridiculous that you or you and dad were doing. I’m deeply, deeply sorry for the loss of your Mom and for your dad’s loss of his partner, wife, and Gracie to his George. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this incredibly painful and difficult time – sending you my deepest, heartfelt condolences, hugs, and love.
EA, I am so sorry! I had the honor and pleasure of meeting her a couple of times. Your words are beautiful and so full of love. I can feel your loss. Thinking of you and Barney.❤️
Jan Oihus
What a wonderful tribute to such a beautiful woman. Her graciousness, devotion, and humility are so evident in your writing. Rest in peace dear lady & know your children and grandchildren will carry on your legacy.