Phyllis Macy-Mills passed away Nov. 14, 2015 at the age of 78, at SouthWind Home in Pratt, KS, after battling metastatic breast cancer for over 20 years. Born Oct. 08, 1937 to Wayne and Earline Macy in Concordia, KS, she lived in Kingman, KS until 1976. Phyllis graduated from Kingman High School, class of 1955, received a Bachelor’s of Health Science from Wichita State University, as well as graduating from Wichita State University’s Physician Assistant program (cum laude)in 1976. In the late 1970’s, Phyllis worked in Wichita for the Mid-America Heart Associates in cardiac surgery. In 2001, she was named Kansas Physician Assistant of the Year, and was the first woman CEO at the South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City. She was also a Physician Assistant for the Galichia Medical Group in Wichita, KS and worked at Cedar Vale Hospital.
She raised her four beloved children Bill, Len, Jon, and Bambi on the farm 3 miles south of Cleveland, KS. They all loved their horses, cattle, bucket calves, lambs, wheat harvest, silo filling, chickens, dogs, cats, and gardening. They also enjoyed Cub Scouts and Brownies meetings, music & art lessons, basketball, football, track, games & practices, as well as summer picnics, camping, fishing, wading in the creek, swimming in the pond, and ice skating in the winter. It was 10 miles to town, time for talks of hopes and dreams. With a grateful heart, she thanks her children for the wonderful life they shared. When her children were married, and were joined by their wives and husbands, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she loved to cook and bake for them all.
Her 11th Great-grandfather arrived in America from Chilmark, England in 1635. Thlater, in the 1870’s, the family homesteaded in Cloud County, KS. Many of the family were Quakers, and Phyllis strived to show love and compassion to her family, friends, and her patients. She loved people and was a caring and giving person. In 1980, she married Carl Mills. They lived on the Mills Ranch in Cedar Vale, KS, which was homesteaded by his Great-grandfather in 1871. They raised cattle, performance and show Quarter Horses, and traveled the U.S. for medical and AQHA conventions.
Phyllis was also an accomplished guitar player, singer and songwriter. Her records played on KFDI during the mid-1980’s. She was featured as one of Larry Hatteberg’s Kansas People. She wrote two children’s books that were published, a collection of cowboy and Western poetry writings, and was published in other collections of Western poetry. Some of her works are now in the Robert Redford Hole in the Wall Gang, a camp for terminally ill children, the University of Arizona’s Western Poetry Archives, a Cowboy Poetry gathering in Elko, Nevada, as well as the Kansas Agricultural Hall of Fame. She was President of the Kingman Ladies Golf Association, board member of the Kingman Hospital, a member and officer of the Ark City, KS Hospital Board, board member of the Pioneer District Red Cross, and the State District Library Board. She was also appointed to the University of Nebraska’s Physician Assistant Program Advisory Council. Phyllis traveled to Europe, Mexico, and South Africa, learned to grow Old English Roses, finished ground school, and learned to fly.
She is survived by her husband Carl Howard Mills, her children: sons, Len (Mary) Messenger, Jon (Gayla) Messenger, all of Kingman, KS, daughter, Bambi (Tim) Gress, of Ennis, MT. Her mother, Earline Macy, of Kingman, KS.Grandchildren: Dr. Jon (Amanda) Messenger, Holly Messenger-Young, Bonnie (Sean) Garvey, Colleen (Kelsey) Knowles, Katy, Bill, and Jacob Messenger. Great-grandchildren: Kason Messenger and Presley Young, Brylee, Daric, and Jonny Messenger. Stepchildren: Carla (Bill) Barnard of Winfield, KS, and Larry Mills of Longton, KS, three Step-grandchildren, and four Step Great-grandchildren. Her brother Bill (Susan) Macy of Lincoln, NE, and her sister Jill Macy Ramsey of Fort Wayne, IN, one niece, and four nephews, Brother-in-law Jay Mills, many lifelong friends, and her beloved big dog, “Amazing Grace.” Phyllis was preceded in death by her father Wayne Macy, her eldest son Bill Macy Messenger, and her brother-in-law Marion Ramsey. Arrangements for cremation have been made through Livingston Funeral Home.
The family invites you to please join them for a graveside gathering at the Cleveland Cemetery in Cleveland, KS (south of Kingman) at 10:30 am on Saturday November 21st followed by a reception at the Kingman Country Club. Memorials may be made to Kingman Carnegie Library and Southwind Home in Pratt, KS, in care of Livingston Funeral Home.