Phyllis Cecilia (Gottschalk) Murphy

Phyllis Cecilia (Gottschalk) Murphy, age 83, formerly of Zurich, passed away on August 29, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Center in Ellis.

She was born November 23, 1940, to John H. and Georgina Gottschalk in a farmhouse west of Schoenchen. While they lived south of Hays, she attended a one-room school, and then she attended St. Anthony grade school when they moved to Schoenchen. 

Phyllis met Mike Murphy when he made a trip to Schoenchen with a friend and then again later in Colorado. They married on April 23, 1960, in Schoenchen. Mike preceded her in death on January 27, 2024.

Phyllis was a homemaker all her life, taking Care of their three daughters. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Damar. She enjoyed knitting afghans, crossword puzzles, and scratch-off lottery tickets, but mostly, she enjoyed her time with family.

She is survived by her three daughters, Vicki (Tony) Balthazor, Palco, Connie Lieber, Osage City, and Lori (Doug) Knipp, Damar; her sisters, Kathy Buhrle and Tina Nowak of Hays, Ilene Ritz, Parsons, and Clarita Baker, Strong City; brothers Earl Gottschalk, Schoenchen, and Terry Gottschalk, Logan; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren, with three on the way.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike; her parents; her infant son, Kevin; brothers John W. Gottschalk, Allen Gottschalk, Ronnie Gottschalk, and Merlin Gottschalk; a sister Patricia Gottschalk; and a son-in-law, David Lieber.

Visitation will be Wednesday, September 4, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a parish vigil service beginning at 7:00 p.m. all at Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory - Brock's Chapel, 2509 Vine Street Hays, KS 67601.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 5, 2024, at St Anthony Catholic Church—Schoenchen. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Damar.

Memories and words of comfort may be shared on Phyllis’s tribute page at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com