Phyllis Mary Klatt's Obituary
On the morning of December 28th 2022, Phyllis Mary Klatt (née Neville) passed away at age 95. Her passing was peaceful, with the love and care of her daughter and best friend, Lynn Karr. Throughout her final years, she spent many, if not all, of her days enjoying time with her family – sharing stories, laughing, shopping, and taking in the Ohio summers and winters with good food and company.
Phyllis was born under the sun of Los Angeles, California on January 24th, 1927, predeceased by her loving parents Thara and Bertha Neville, her adventurous husband William Klatt, dear aunt Amy Hastings, and brother Harvey Neville. She is survived by her sister Janet (and Robert) Romeyn. She was a mother to three children: Lee (and Judy) Middelkoop, Lynn (and Keith) Karr, and John Middelkoop. She was a grandmother to Leslie Herbach, Cole (and Melisa) Bradley, and Madison Karr, and great-grandmother to Hannah and Mike Herbach. She was loved dearly by each and every family member and was always the connecting thread across the family. Holiday gatherings were not the same if they didn’t feature her signature pot roast, orange Jell-O, and kidney bean salad. Phyllis was a strong and resilient woman. Not only did she live far into her 90’s, but she did so enjoying a glass of Jack Daniels & 7-Up on the rocks each night before dinner – a drink that she loved to share and savor with her grandson, Cole Bradley. Phyllis’s life was filled with California sunsets, Ohio winters, and adventure, hand-in-hand with her husband Bill. Together they shared many years along the beaches of the Hawaiian islands, exploring Baja California, Mexico, and the continental US. She loved to read, catch up on her favorite TV shows, and was always learning something new. Phyllis also enjoyed bringing joy to many children by providing educational tours at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro California. With Phyllis’s passing, rather than mourning her death, her long and beautiful life will be celebrated with a “Celebration of Life Gathering” (date to be announced). This will be a time to reminisce, and rejoice the wonderful stories and experiences we all shared by her side.
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