Phyllis Jackson Lee, age 98, a lifelong educator and community leader, passed away peacefully at her home on April 7 with family at her side. Phyllis was born March 31, 1924 on the family farm, homesteaded in the 1860s, in Lebanon, Kansas to Clayton Eugene and Velma Williams Jackson.   She was the eldest of 4 children with 1 brother, Paul, and 2 sisters, Neva and Sue. The family moved to Mankato, Kansas where her father began working as an electrician.  Phyllis attended school in Mankato through the fourth grade when her father was transferred to Jewel, Kansas.  Phyllis completed her schooling here and graduated from Jewel High School. She immersed herself in her passion for art during her early life and drew continually in her spare time. Phyllis was very involved in all the school activities. She sang in the chorus, played the cello, performed in school plays, played basketball, long jumped in track and was a cheerleader for the local sporting events.

After graduating from Jewell High School, Phyllis enrolled in the Fine Arts College at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. At the end of her freshman year, she was awarded the Art Honorary's designation as the Outstanding Freshman in Art.  In 1942, shortly after the start of WWII, the family moved to Boulder, Colorado where Phyllis' father began working for the Public Service Company.  Phyllis enrolled in the University of Colorado and continued to study art.  She attended CU from 1943-1948.  While attending the university, Phyllis joined the USO where she learned to dance sparking her lifelong passion for this activity.  Also, during her years at CU, Phyllis met her future husband Harold "Pete" Lee.  They both graduated from CU in 1948 with Phyllis earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts and Art Education.  Following graduation, she taught for one year at Westwood Junior High School in Denver, Colorado.

Pete and Phyllis were married on August 27, 1949 in Wondervu, Colorado at the mountain home of Phyllis' cousin a location that was selected by their daughter Debbie for her wedding 27 years later. Following a short honeymoon in Grand Lake, Phyllis joined Pete in Fort Morgan where he was teaching high school art.  Phyllis accepted a position as the art teacher at Central Elementary School with a starting yearly salary of $2,400.  She taught until the birth of the couple's first child and remained at home raising their family until their youngest child was in elementary school.  She returned to teaching in 1967 as an art teacher at Abner Baker Elementary and Columbine Elementary.  She taught in the Morgan County School District until her retirement in 1987.

Phyllis was an artist at heart.  She shared her love of art instructing all ages from children to adults. Phyllis produced local art shows showcasing her students' creations, while sharing her talent pursuing her own art. She was a life-long learner seeking always to improve her skills and techniques. Her preferred medium was pastels which she used to create portraits of each of her grandchildren and other select individuals. She also enjoyed creating water color landscapes.  Phyllis was instrumental in the founding of the Morgan County Area Arts Council and remained active in the organization well into her retirement.

Phyllis was a member of the Fort Morgan Education Association working on many committees and holding several association offices. She was elected FMEA president for the 1980-1981 school year.   Phyllis was selected as Morgan County School District Teacher of the Year in 1981 and also received Honorable Mention recognition as a finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year the same year.

Community involvement was imbedded in all that Phyllis pursued.   Phyllis and Pete were awarded the CU Alumni Association Community Service Award for their forty years of service to the county and the CU Alumni Association.  She served on the vestry of St. Charles Episcopal Church, was an active member of Friday Club, PEO, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, Women's University Club, Fort Morgan Retired School Employees, and the Colorado Art Association.

Phyllis and Pete pursued their passion for dancing throughout their married life.  They were fortunate to make many friends while sharing their love of dance. They taught ballroom dancing to many Ft. Morgan residents of all ages through organized classes and even impromptu lessons at their home. They looked forward to dancing at the annual Glenn Miller festival.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 72 years, Harold Lee, and her three siblings.  She will be sadly missed by her children Deborah (Michael) Yeats, Michael (Debra) Lee, and Cynthia Bruntz, her six grandchildren; Megan (Brian) Maguire, Kathleen (Daniel) Maguire, Clayton (Angie) Bruntz, Jessica Bruntz, Scott and Eric Lee and six great grandchildren; Caleb, Charlotte, William, Claire, and Connor Maguire and Reagan Bruntz.

A memorial will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Fort Morgan Retired Employees scholarship fund: C/O Rich Biren, 315 Ray Street, Brush, CO 80723.