Phyllis Illene Chavez passed away on March 11, 2024 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Born on September 1, 1931 in Smith Center, Kansas to Kenneth and Agnes Brown as an only child. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and great grandmother.

By chance and circumstance, her family moved to Denver where she met and married her husband, Manual Chavez, DDS.  They were blessed with three children; Joel, Gerri and Bradley. They moved to their house in Lakewood in 1954 and lived there for 70 years until her passing. Through the years, the house saw everything from shag carpet and wood paneling, to teal wallpaper and finally to her beautiful white carpet and walls. Antiques and artwork were some of her passions. To visit her house you would see end tables that were originally ballot boxes and elementary school desks below a Bev Dolittle print or a native American painting.  Pride of place were her pictures of children, grandchildren and friends on the antique hutch in the family room. All was done in perfect modern fashion for the time with Phyllis' impeccable taste.

While pregnant with her youngest son, she contracted polio and was the first woman to deliver a baby while in an iron lung. The illness left her with a handicap but that didn't stop her from helping others by volunteering with Easterseals and reading for the blind.

She will be dearly missed by her son, Brad; grandchildren Krista, Erin, Michon and Maya and great grandchildren Braiden, Lucas, Emma, Althea and Bodhi and son in law John Wessling.   Preceded in death by her husband, Manuel; children Joel and Gerri Wessling. She never missed a birthday and always ended every phone call with "I love you".

At her request a private service will be held.  Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice in Phyllis's name.