Funeral services for Phyllis J. Wagers, 83, will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 19, 2023 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Douglas, Wyoming with Pastor Kevin Cooley officiating and Scott Peasley as the eulogist.

Phyllis died Monday, May 8, 2023, at her home in Douglas surrounded by family and friends, after an exhausting battle with congestive heart failure.

Phyllis was born Monday, January 29, 1940 in Garden City, Kansas to Orvis Robert French and Florence Irene (Carroll) French. She was the third of five children. She graduated high school in Rocky Ford, Colorado in 1957. During high school she worked as a car hop. Phyllis was appreciated by her siblings because she would use some of her money to buy things like strawberry pie for desserts.

After graduation she went to work at Mountain Bell as a telephone operator. For a while Phyllis worked both jobs until her supervisor at the phone company told her she had to quit one of her jobs as she was potentially preventing someone else from having a job.

In 1958, being a woman ahead of her time, Phyllis bravely transferred to Tucumcari, New Mexico for work. There she met Joseph Marshall Wagers and on May 29, 1959 they were married. Phyllis and Joe had two children, Leta Elizabeth Wagers and Joseph Robert Wagers. While in Tucumcari Phyllis worked as a teller for Citizens Bank.

The family moved to Wyoming in 1976. They were partners in owning and operating Kentucky Fried Chicken. In 1991 Phyllis began working at Gray and Associates, which transitioned to Peasley-Armstrong Law Office. She was working right up until two weeks before her death.

Phyllis had the work ethic of a draft horse. She loved working and she loved the staff of the law office.

Believe me when I tell you-she is a hard act to follow.

She is survived by her children, Leta Beth Wagers of Douglas and Joe (Michelle) Wagers of Meeteetse, Wyoming; brothers, Dwight (Betty) French of Sheridan, Wyoming and Dale (Jean) French of Masonville, Colorado; sister-in-law, Karen Longhenry of Longmont, Colorado; grandchildren, Karri Keller (Brady Fletcher) of Cody, Wyoming, Cayenne (Kodi) Dodge of Clark, Wyoming, and Liam (Trina) Wagers of Cody; and five great grandchildren.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her father, Orvis, on January 14, 1974; mother, Florence, on February 3, 1998; husband, Joe, on July 1, 2003; sister, Loretta Rohr, on September 6, 1991; and brother, Darell French, on July 17, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Douglas Strong in care of Converse County Bank, P.O. Box 689, Douglas, Wyoming 82633 would be appreciated by the family.

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com