Phyllis Lillian Gall Donley

May 28, 1929 – Sept. 4, 2024

Phyllis Donley passed away at the New Horizons Care Center on the morning of September 4, 2024, after a brief struggle with lung and colon cancer. The end of her 95 years came peacefully in her sleep under the watchful care of the nursing home staff. 

Phyllis was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on May 28, 1929. She was the third child in the family of Gus and Emma Gall. Her five siblings were Delores, Velma, Wally, Kenny and Sharon. The family moved to Tacoma, Washington, during the war, so her father could work in the shipyards. Her father later worked for the railroad until he retired. 

Phyllis stayed in Washington and later began working for Boeing, where she happened to work with Kat Donley, Jim Donley’s sister. It was Kat who introduced Jim to Phyllis by inviting her on a trip to Wyoming in 1959. After Jim and Phyllis met, they wrote to each other often, developing a lasting relationship. 

Phyllis made the move to Cowley to join Jim in marriage in January of 1960. Jim and Phyllis were married for just more than 61 years when Jim passed away at 95 years old on Valentine’s Day of 2021. 

During their marriage, Phyllis and Jim served our communities in various ways such as delivering senior meals for the senior center. They also became known as “Grandpa and Grandma Donley” to many children in Cowley and provided countless lollipops to the kids as they would ring their doorbell to say hello on their way home from school.

Homemaking was Phyllis’ main career in life; however, she did enjoy her 39 years as an “Avon Lady.” She had many customers in Cowley, Lovell, Frannie and Deaver and made regular visits to all of them for most of those 39 years. She finally gave up her beloved Avon shortly after Jim passed. 

Soon thereafter Phyllis decided it would be best to move to the nursing home. She spent the last few years of her life at Heartland Assisted Living in Powell and the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Harry Donley; parents Gus and Emma Gall; and siblings Delores, Velma, Wally and Kenny.

She is survived by her sister, Sharon Smith, of Yakima, Washington; nieces and nephews Kevin Smith, Shelly Smith, David Smith, Paulette Albert, Layne Smith and Lance Smith; and stepdaughter Marilyn. 

Funeral services for Phyllis were held Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Cowley LDS Church. Burial took place following the services at the Cowley Cemetery.