Phyllis Jeane Lorson

Phyllis Jeane (Rock) Lorson passed away peacefully in Richardson, Texas, at the age of 79.

Phyllis was born February 16, 1947, in Herington, Kansas, to Robert Vere and Maxine Clara Rock. She graduated from Hope High School in 1965 and carried with her throughout life the determination, confidence, and plain-spoken Kansas spirit that made her unmistakably Phyllis.

Her career included work in Communications with Delta Airlines and later in sales with Medicos and Dove Medical. But her most important roles were never listed on a résumé: mother, grandmother, sister, friend, team mom, cheerleader, and occasional card-table menace.

Phyllis was, above all else, creative. If something could be painted, sewed, tiled, arranged, planted, decorated, glued, polished, or otherwise transformed, there was a good chance Phyllis was going to give it a try. She created tile mosaics and tackled countless other projects because making something beautiful was part of who she was.

She loved her family fiercely and her friends generously. She was confident, independent, quick to laugh, and always ready to make a memory. She appreciated a cold beer, enjoyed a good glass of red wine, and never seemed to believe that life was improved by taking everything too seriously.

Phyllis was a steady source of support for her family and friends, the person who showed up, encouraged, laughed, listened, and helped create the stories that people will continue telling long after the details of the day have faded.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leo Ralph Lorson, whom she married in Kansas on October 18, 1997. Leo passed away in 2016 after 19 years of marriage. Their story, separated by years but reunited in the end, will now continue together.

Phyllis leaves behind her children, Brett Robert Baridon and wife Wendy of Royse City, Texas, and Christine Anne Colclasure and husband Rick of Lewisville, Texas; grandchildren James Cade Baridon of Austin, Texas, and Georgia and Beatrice Colclasure of Lewisville, Texas; and siblings Gail Pilcher of Hope, Kansas; Jan Jones and husband Kevin of Cody, Wyoming; Ronald Rock and wife Karen of Beecher, Illinois; and Kenneth Rock and wife Julie of Overland Park, Kansas. And many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

Phyllis lived with color, creativity, confidence, and laughter. She left things—and people—better than she found them. She will be missed.

She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Leo Ralph Lorson, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas 67449