Phyllis Lorell Rumsey

Phyllis Lorell Ware Rumsey, born December 11, 1924, in Severance, Kansas to Harry Winfield and Barbara Moyer Ware. She was the youngest of three children: Howard, the oldest, by 10 years; Barbara Jean, by 5 years. She grew up during the Depression but living in Severance and with her family they never let on that they were bad times. Phyllis always said, “I had a happy life.” They called their home “Buckingham” because it was like a palace to them. She and her sister would put on plays in the converted chicken coop which had become their play house, and family and friends would come and watch.

Being the youngest, she would go visiting family and friends with her mother and she learned a great deal about her family history. Phyllis’ mother also spent her last 4 years living with Phyllis and thus Phyllis was able to learn where abouts of distant cousins. She reached out and over many years put together a very thorough ancestry of her mother’s family. Through her father’s heritage she was able to locate a family member who fought in the American Revolutionary War and thus she was able to join the Nodaway County Chapter of the DAR. This she did so her descendants could more readily join this organization using her number if they so desired.

Phyllis was quite talented. She could play both piano and organ; but her main instrument was the violin. She played 1 st chair in the Severance High School Orchestra. She also had a wonderful singing voice. She attended and graduated from Washburn University. Became a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. After graduation, she taught World History for 3 years in the Senior High School at Eureka, Kansas.

She met Walter Rumsey while teaching; they were married in Syracuse, New York and to this union were born two children: Karen Lorell and Walter Blake. After 9 years this marriage ended and the family moved to Maryville, Missouri.

Maryville was a great place to raise her children, close to family: her brother, Howard and his family and her parents who still resided in Severance, Kansas. She became a member of the Maryville First United Methodist Church. She was an active member for 30 years in the Church’s Care Group, where she met some cherished lifelong friends. She had served as a Vice Chairman of the Nodaway County Republican Central Committee for many years. She loved politics, world history and the discussion of both. She took writing classes and wrote wonderful unpublished stories; but also wrote wonderful, caring notes to whomever she sent a card.

October was Native American month with the DAR and she would do the presentation another one of her beloved topics – The Native Americans.

Her favorite activities in life, besides being with, were reading and playing Bridge. Phyllis was an avid reader. She went through 4 Kindles just during the last 10 years. She started playing Bridge while in college and carried on long enough to teach her grandchildren.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her son: Blake Rumsey, parents: Harry and Barbara Ware, brother: Howard A. Ware, sister: Barbara Jean Sterne

Survived by daughter: Karen L. (Damon) Musselman, grandchildren: Seth B. Musselman, Joseph W. Musselman, and Adina L. (James) Lynch, great grandchildren: Alyssa L. Lynch and Taylor M. Lynch, and many loved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services to take place at Bram Funeral Home, in Maryville, Missouri; on August 8, 2026 at 11 am. Followed by a brief graveside service at 12:30 for Phyllis' family. A Luncheon will be held at the First United Maryville Methodist Church for Family and close friends at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to the Maryville Public Library and may be left in the care of Bram Funeral Home.