Phyllis Atchison

Phyllis Jean (Heinke) Atchison, 85, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Thursday, August 16th, 2018 at Menorah Medical Center. Phyllis was born September 9, 1932 in Nebraska City, NE the last of 4 children amidst the poverty of the Great Depression. The situation became more difficult when at the age of three her parents divorced and her mother Dorothy moved the family to live with her parents. She was younger than her older siblings by 9, 11 and 13 years so in some ways she grew up as an only child.

During her formative years in Nebraska she was quite the tomboy preferring to play with the boys at recess. Given her humble living circumstances she was quite proud of her many accomplishments as she  was asked to play clarinet in her high school marching band beginning in the seventh grade, selected as a majorette during her last two years in high school and was the only girl of five selected for National Honor Society her junior year.  She received a full scholarship to Peru State Teachers College where she majored in Physical Education and Biology involving herself in many clubs and honorary fraternities. She also worked a part time job in the school library to help pay for living expenses.  She was proud of being elected to “Who’s Who among American Universities and Colleges” during her graduating year.

She utilized her P.E. degree to land a teaching position at secondary education schools in Oregon and later in the Shawnee Mission School District until she started her family. She met her husband Don when their two church singles groups had a combined bowling activity. He quickly moved over to 2nd Presbyterian in Kansas City, MO where they were active in the church until shortly after they tied the knot on August 5, 1962. They subsequently built a home in the suburbs and became members of Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, KS.

Phyllis enjoyed playing tennis for many years at Nall Hills Country Club, Woodside and Overland Park Racquet clubs. Many weekends you could find her on the court playing in tournaments with her husband and a multitude of others until her hip and knees forced her retirement from the sport in her early 70’s. She never hit the tennis ball very hard, but not very many club members liked to play against her and her trusty T-2000 because of the insane angle shots she would place on Mr. Penn or Mr. Wilson. Many people tried to get her to upgrade her racquet but she steadfastly refused to change along with many other aspects of her life especially when technology entered the fray.

Phyllis continued her pursuit of her favorite sport by achieving certification as a member of KATO (KS Association of Tennis Officials) serving at many national tournaments at the net or on the service line. She was extremely thrilled to be selected as a line umpire twice at the U.S. Open in the 1980’s and once when the city of Los Angeles hosted the Olympics in 1984.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her siblings Arlene and Harry Jr., of Omaha, NE and Ila of Phoenix, AZ.  Phyllis will be remembered by her daughter Julie of Greensboro, NC and her two sons and their wives, Jim (Karen) Atchison, Jerry (Tonia) Atchison both of Olathe, KS and by her granddaughter Kaili and her four grandsons Ryan, Kevin, Zachary and Kyle. The family suggests contributions may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or Peru State College Foundation https://peru.thankyou4caring.org/ as a memorial in her name.