1933 - 2025
A graveside service celebrating the life of Phyllis Coleen Sturgeon, age 92 of Arlington, TX, will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 6, 2025, in the Ames Cemetery with the Rev. Vernon Lee officiating, under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home and Crematory.
Phyllis was born June 16, 1933, on a farm near Ames, OK, she was the second of five children to Laura and Wendel Sturgeon. She passed away Friday morning, October 31, 2025, in Arlington, TX.
She went to Ames public school and graduated as Vice-President in 1951; exceling at basketball and playing piano. She performed on piano for many social events as well as weddings . She was baptized at age 14 in the Ames Baptist Church.
After high school, she worked as a phone operator and played piano on one of Enid’s radio stations.
She met Paul Woods, who was stationed at Vance Air Force Base, at an Enid skating rink. They married and had two sons. They moved to Sapulpa, Ok where she played for the First Christian Church and hosted a popular yearly recital for her piano students.
In 1966, she married Reginald Foster and enjoyed two homes; one in Arlington, TX and one in Vienna, Maryland. The close proximity to Washington, D.C., allowed access to national museums and trips to New York City.
In 1976, she moved permanently to Arlington, TX and married Emil Mikwee. She remained there the rest of her life enjoying travel and plants.
Phyllis is survived by her sons, Dr. Curt Woods, and musician Brent Woods, and a sister Patricia Sturgeon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wendel and Laura Sturgeon, and brothers, James, Rodney and Merideth Sturgeon.
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