Phyllis Mae (Wagner) Screen, 89, died on September 11, 2023 at Pinnacle Park Nursing home in Salina, Kansas. Phyllis was born on the family farm north of Culbertson, Nebraska October 14, 1933 to Arthur and Wanda (Jerome) Wagner. She graduated Culbertson High School in 1951 and attended McCook Community College.
Phyllis taught at a one room school house in rural Kansas for two years. It was at a get together there that she met James Screen. They married May 5, 1957. During their early married years, Phyllis left the workforce to support the needs of the farm and the family’s church, school, and 4-H activities. She later returned to the workforce as a certified nurse assistant at the Decatur County Hospital, where she retired.
Phyllis and Jim loved to travel, taking numerous bus trips, camping trips or later, vacations to visit children and grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was being grandma to 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Another one of Phyllis’ passions was music. She enjoyed playing the organ and piano at church each Sunday as well as other special occasions. Phyllis passed that love of music to her children and grandchildren.
Phyllis is survived by a brother George Wagner, sisters-in-law, Dee Wagner and Deanie Wagner, her children, Larry Screen of Salina, Kansas, Susan (Peggy Schramm) Screen of San Carlos, California, and Vivian (Edward) Russ, WaKeeney, Kansas; grandchildren Justin Screen, Curtis Screen, Megan (Adam) Nelson, Nathan Russ, Josiah Russ, Sarah (Michael) Smith, Erin (Joshua Brame) Smith, Andrew Russ, Michelle Russ and Nicole Russ. Great-grandchildren, Jonathan (Savannah) Nelson, Aiden Nelson, Levi Nelson, Timothy Nelson, Isaac Nelson, Mandy Russ, Isaac Russ, JJ Russ, Jacob Russ, Adrione Smith, Jeremiah Smith, Rebekah Smith, Ronin Smith and Rawllin Russ. She is preceded in death by her husband James Screen, sister Dian Simpson, brothers Richard Wagner and Duane Wagner, brother-in-law David Simpson and two grand daughters in law, Mary Russ and Karen Russ.
There will be a funeral at First Covenant Church in Salina Kansas, Friday, September 15, 2023 at 2:00 PM with refreshments following. Another funeral will be held in Oberlin Kansas Saturday Sept 16, 2023 at 2:30 at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin with gravesite service following.
Memorials can be made to either First Covenant Church in Salina or Oberlin Covenant Church in Oberlin.