1928 - 2026
The services celebrating and honoring the life of Peggy J. McKnight Phillips Willhoite, 97, of Enid, will be held 10:00 A.M. Tuesday July 21, 2026 , in the Brown-Cummings Chapel with Alison Robuck officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings, A life celebration home. Peggy was born July 26, 1928, to Frank and Lucille (Donley) McKnight in St. Louis, Missouri and passed from this life July 15, 2026 in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma. She was raised and educated in California, Missouri where her grandfather owned a General Mercantile store where her father also worked. Her mother was a schoolteacher. In 1942 she moved with her mother and sister to Kansas City, KS where she graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1946. After high school she worked in the medical field before graduating from Cosmetology School. She married Marion L. Phillips, June 15, 1947. He was in the United States Marine Corp and was recalled to the Korean war after serving in WWII. Afterwards the couple moved to Oceanside, CA. where their first daughter, Vivian, was born and Marion was honorably discharged in January of 1952. Their second daughter Michele, was born after moving to Enid. Peggy worked in the beauty business, first owning House of Beauty Salon and later an instructor / co-owner of Beech’s Beauty College. She continued her salon in the Midwestern Inn Hotel for many years before moving her salon to her home. She was passionate about the beauty business winning many awards in the tri-state area. She was active in the Enid Hairdressers Association as well as The Thunderbirds Hairdressers Association. Peggy was also a member of Sigma Phi Gamma International Sorority for twenty-five years becoming a lifetime member and also belonged to the Chi Bet Pi Child Study Club. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she and Marion were charter members of the Sooner Sunday School Class. Marion passed from this life January 26, 1972. She later married Don Willhoite, August 6, 1977, in Enid. She then joined the Christian Church of the Covenant. While attending she founded the Acolyte program, served as the Worship Chairman, Fellowship Worker and taught Bible School. She and her husband Don were recipients of the Leo Christianson Award for outstanding service to the church. She retired, along with her husband, in 1983. She was an avid golfer, an active member of both the Oakwood and Meadowlake Women’s Golf Club Associations. She and Don enjoyed spending time between Enid, Chipita Park, CO and traveling the globe. Peggy loved watching her OSU Cowboys, Oklahoma City Thunder and any golf tournament that was on TV. She is survived by her daughters Vivian “Vivi” Grigsby and husband Jim, of Edmond, OK and Michele Was and husband Dudley of San Diego, California; eight grandchildren, Hannah, David, Trevor, John, Adam, Jessica and Sean; five great-grandchildren, Sam, Eliza, Huck, Alexandra and Ford as well as numerous family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her first husband Marion Phillips; her second husband Don Willhoite; her sister Marjorie McKnight Petty; and her parents Frank & Lucille McKnight. Memorials may be given in her honor to Oakwood Women’s Golf Association benefitting “Girls Golf Too” (A free two day golf camp for all girls ages 5-13yrs of Garfield County). send checks to: Oakwood Country Club 1601 N. Oakwood Rd. Enid, OK 73703 Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at WWW.BrownCummings.com.
