Obituary for Phyllis Ruth Gregory (Knipple)
Phyllis Ruth Gregory
December 17, 1941 - May 12, 2023
Phyllis (Knipple) Gregory was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1941, to Herbert and Leona Knipple.
In her own words, Phyllis was not a “giver-upper,” and it gave her the giggles when friends and family would quote her on that. Petite in stature and strong in will, she came from a generation that put their heads down and just got the thing done (whatever “the thing” was).
Phyllis moved to Oregon with her family when she was 7 years old. She started working when she was 9, helping care for her younger siblings and picking berries in the fields in the summers. She never really stopped working, though she never had a paying job as an adult. Phyllis said she had a 4-year period of time when her job as a homemaker felt like a break: the years between when she got married and had children of her own.
She married Roy Gregory in July of 1960 and they had three sons: Steven, Scott, and Jeffrey.
Some of her favorite memories were family vacations—camping with Roy’s brothers’ families—and celebrating holidays together. She loved to celebrate others and sent greeting cards on birthdays, holidays, and sometimes just because. She loved Christmas and decorated to her heart’s content. She was especially fond of her porcelain Christmas village, which grew year after year. Phyllis also loved playing cards. Canasta was a particular favorite—it was a game she played from her childhood through the very end of her life. Roy passed away in December of 2000, and Phyllis’ birthday and Christmas were always a little bittersweet for her after that. Phyllis helped raise many of her grandkids for some portion of their lives, caring for them while their parents were at work. She believed deeply in looking out for the people you love and helping out wherever possible.
Phyllis is survived by her three sons, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a strong and caring woman and she will be greatly missed! Bollman’s Tribute Center is caring for the family. www.bollmanstributecenter.com
December 17, 1941 - May 12, 2023
Phyllis (Knipple) Gregory was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1941, to Herbert and Leona Knipple.
In her own words, Phyllis was not a “giver-upper,” and it gave her the giggles when friends and family would quote her on that. Petite in stature and strong in will, she came from a generation that put their heads down and just got the thing done (whatever “the thing” was).
Phyllis moved to Oregon with her family when she was 7 years old. She started working when she was 9, helping care for her younger siblings and picking berries in the fields in the summers. She never really stopped working, though she never had a paying job as an adult. Phyllis said she had a 4-year period of time when her job as a homemaker felt like a break: the years between when she got married and had children of her own.
She married Roy Gregory in July of 1960 and they had three sons: Steven, Scott, and Jeffrey.
Some of her favorite memories were family vacations—camping with Roy’s brothers’ families—and celebrating holidays together. She loved to celebrate others and sent greeting cards on birthdays, holidays, and sometimes just because. She loved Christmas and decorated to her heart’s content. She was especially fond of her porcelain Christmas village, which grew year after year. Phyllis also loved playing cards. Canasta was a particular favorite—it was a game she played from her childhood through the very end of her life. Roy passed away in December of 2000, and Phyllis’ birthday and Christmas were always a little bittersweet for her after that. Phyllis helped raise many of her grandkids for some portion of their lives, caring for them while their parents were at work. She believed deeply in looking out for the people you love and helping out wherever possible.
Phyllis is survived by her three sons, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a strong and caring woman and she will be greatly missed! Bollman’s Tribute Center is caring for the family. www.bollmanstributecenter.com