Phyllis Smith

After 95 years on this earth, Phyllis Jean Basse Reynolds Smith passed away peacefully on November 17, 2022, surrounded by her family. Phyllis was born on July 30, 1927, in South Dakota to William Ernest Basse and Rosalie Marie Housel. She was one of four children.

Phyllis moved to Madison, Nebraska at the age of 4. She spent most of her younger years there before moving to Denver, Colorado where she lived in the Denver/Aurora area until 2017 when she moved to Provo, Utah.

After graduating from William Smith High School, Phyllis graduated from Colorado Women’s College. She met and married the love of her life and eternal companion Robert (Bob) Reynolds on December 1,1947. They were blessed with two children, Tim Reynolds and Dee (Reynolds) Buffington, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Twelve years after Bob’s death in 1980, she married Alvin Bernard (AB) Smith and was warmly welcomed by the Smith family. AB Smith passed away in 2016.

Phyllis always had the ability to make friends. She had such a genuine concern for others. To her, being a friend was a cherished part of life and she had many lifelong friends. She loved being social and playing games, spending time in the mountains with family or friends. She and Bob had a very welcoming home that was open to everyone. Playing cards, hosting dinners, and enjoying a fun Friday night with friends was not uncommon for them. Phyllis and Bob impacted the lives of many people for good.

With everything Phyllis did, she worked hard and gave her all. She had many employment opportunities and retired from the professional world in her 70’s. She was also very civic-minded and served for many years in Eastern Star, LaSertoma Club, her local political party leadership, and served as an election judge. She and Bob were always supportive of their children’s school and extra activities. In her free time, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends, reading, crocheting, and journaling. Phyllis had an incredible talent of keeping impeccable records and journals.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Phyllis loved serving in her various church callings throughout her life. She enjoyed her many years of service in the Denver Temple. She had a strong testimony of her Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ that she shared in word and deed. She was a great example of compassion, kindness and devoted service.

Phyllis was a strong, fun, and wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She also found great joy in her new role as a great-great-grandmother. She was blessed with a posterity of 67, with more on the way. She had a quick smile, cute sense of humor and was a joy to be with for all ages.

Phyllis Jean Basse Reynolds Smith was preceded in death by her parents William Ernest Basse and Rosalie Marie Housel, husband Robert Sumner Reynolds, Geraldine Ruth Basse (sister), Vern Kenneth Basse (brother), Duane Housel Basse (brother), and A.B. Smith (second husband). Phyllis will be buried at Ft. Logan Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.