Phyliss Z. harper July 13, 1935 - November 2, 2024

Phyliss Harper, age 89 of Nixa, Missouri passed away Saturday, November 2, 2024, from the long battle of a stroke. She was born July 13, 1935, in St Louis, Missouri. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States from Croatia and professed the SDA faith. Her grandmother passed away and her granddad remarried to Goldena, who followed the SDA faith. Her father did not follow the faith of the grandparents. Goldena took Phyliss to church beginning at a very young age. This experience made a positive impression on young Phyliss and she always wanted to join the SDA church. In 1965, Phyliss and her husband were baptized in the St. Louis Central Church.

During her teen years, Phyliss was an avid fan and follower of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball team. Her many baseball cards were an indication of her attendance to many games. After learning through her high school class the value of good nutrition and eating properly, she hadn’t tasted chocolate for years or drank a soda.

After graduation Phyliss, worked as a secretary for Rawlings Sporting Goods in St. Louis. And later was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart. He joined the United Staes Army and was sent to Germany for duty. While in Germany, Phyliss had a son, David. The marriage deteriorated and ended in divorce. She returned to St. Louis and worked for McDonald Aircraft in the Automation Center and worked her way to executive secretary for the director. Her next step for promotion would be to work for Man Mac himself, however his secretary was not retiring.

In 1964, Phyliss met Ron Harper, who like Phylis, was recently divorced. Ron had a daughter and they felt if their marriage was to be successful the family must have one name, so they cross adopted their children. Phyliss enjoyed Winter vacations in the Colorado Rockies. In 1969, Sunnydale Academy Seniors elected to have a senior trip skiing. She and Ron attended and found a wonderful sport for Wintertime. It was a challenge to learn to ski but they shared great fun. Every Winter, they spent the next 14 years on the slopes.

Ron was growing his successful business and talked Phyliss into being his office manager, where she flourished and kept the company on track financially. In 1972, they sold the business and moved to Peculiar, Missouri to live on Ron’s dad’s farm. It was a disaster financially, so Ron was recruited into the Literature Ministry. He worked for the Lord for 16 years and Phyliss supported his ministry.

Phyliss began working part-time for Joe’s Health Food Store in Grandview, she had valuable knowledge of vitamins and eventually started her own successful store in Belton. In 1982, she sold her store and purchased a larger store in Springfield and grew the business to great success. In 1995, the Springfield Business Journal featured Phyliss on the front page of their weekly newspaper as being successful. Later in 2005, Phyliss sold the store and retired. During retirement, she took up knitting, made her own socks, scarves and baby hats. She was a fabulous cook and made the best bread. She was also the church treasurer for many years and church school treasurer. Phyliss was a burst of energy, but on March 2, 2017, she experienced a devastating stroke and changed her active way of life. They say tragedy comes in 3’s, her son David and daughter-in-law were on their way from Utah for her funeral when an automobile accident tragically terminated their lives and on the same day Phyliss passed away. Phyliss is survived by her loving husband Ron; two daughters Monica and Yvonne Faye; five grandchildren David, Tanya, Jamie, Colby and Tucker; six great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Phyliss will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 8, 2024 in Nixa Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Nixa, Missouri. Burial will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, November 11, 2024 at Wills Cemetery, Peculiar, Missouri. Arrangements under the care and direction of Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark, Missouri. Online condolences may be shared at www.barnesfamilyfunerals.com.