Phyllis Ann Ames

Phyllis Ann Ames passed away peacefully on the morning of September 23, 2026, at The Legacy Nursing Home in Amarillo Texas. She was 90 years old and had lived a long full life. Memorial services for Phyllis will be Monday, September 28, 2026, at 10 o'clock in the morning at Morrison Memorial Chapel with Pastor Zane Powers, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Beeson ~ Morrison Funeral Directors. 

Phyllis Ann Thomas was born to Alfred Ernest Thomas and Anna Ulrey on December 21, 1935, in Sundance Wyoming. She was the youngest of six children. On October 29, 1950, she married William Arthur (Bill) Ames in Gillette, Wyoming. They had six children (Estella Lucille (Lucy), Thomas Lee, Peter Mark, Robert Jay, Helamina Kay, and Nikki Lynn). They moved to Moore County, Texas in June 1965 where Bill went to work at the Smelter Plant.

Phyllis enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, and most of all her kids. After raising her own six children she babysat for many starting with her grandson, Arliss McDonald, and growing to up to 10 kids all under school age. All the kids she kept came to think of her as Grandma Phyllis, related or not. She loved them all. She had a schedule and all of the kids took regular naps and came to the table to eat lunch, and they loved the food she served. She also loved to sew. Phyllis could and did make her own patterns, cutting them out of newspapers, and made clothes for her kids and grandkids. Each of her children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren have at least one hand made quilt that was lovingly made by her. Weddings and new babies were always blessed by a handmade quilt lovingly made by Grandma Phyllis. Some of them have been handed down for two or even three generations. She loved spoiling her grandkids. She made the best cookies, bread, pies, soups - anything she cooked was delicious, especially her chicken and noodles and bread made from wheat that she cleaned and ground herself. The family ran a hay hauling operation in the area for many years, with Phyllis often driving the truck. She pretty much helped bring home the bacon and fry it up. After she and Bill retired they decided to sell some of their home grown fruits and vegetables at the Farmers Market. They did very well at that, but after Bill died she decided that growing a big garden was a little too much for her. She did continue to can her fruits, jellies and vegetables, and make pickles to share with her kids.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings; Amy Lou age 3 and Lorri age 4, and her brothers Alfred Ernest Thomas Jr. and Warren Franklin (Corky) Thomas, her half-sister Marie Minnick, her husband Bill Ames, and a grandson, Michael Johnson.

Phyllis is survived by her children: Lucy and Loyd Johnson of Panhandle, Tom and Martha Ames of Canyon, Mark and Barb Ames of Sunrise Manor, Nevada, Robert and Cindy Ames of Dumas, Helamina Kay and Jon Jones of Phoenix AZ and Nikki and Mike McDonald of Dumas, 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.