Phyllis Boggess

"Phabulous" Phyllis Boggess returned home to the Lord on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at the age of 94. At the time of her passing, she was residing at Spring Ridge Park Memory Care in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
Born on October 13, 1930, in Buffalo, New York, to Millard and Vera Morrison, Phyllis was the middle child. She had an older sister, Margery Brown (age 95), who resides in Wichita, Kansas, and a younger brother, William (Bill) Morrison, who lived in Black Lake, New York, before his passing in September, 2022.
Raised in a loving home, Phyllis was an excellent student-with one exception: on her 4th-grade report card, a teacher noted, "talks too much." That turned out to be one of her many superpowers: talking to people. Not just to friends-she would strike up a conversation at the bus stop while commuting to her receptionist job at Davis, Graham & Stubbs law firm, in restaurants with fellow diners or wait staff, at the airport before flying to Hawaii, or even in the grocery store checkout line. Many people she met this way became lifelong friends.
After graduating from high school, Phyllis attended Buffalo State Teachers College until she met and married Robert H. Griese in 1951. Two daughters, Mary Anne (Anne) and Sally, soon followed. Sadly, Bob passed away from lymphoma in 1963.
Her next adventure involved a bold move to Denver, Colorado, with two teenage girls, no acquaintances, no job, and no place to live. For Phyllis, these were not obstacles-just bumps in the road. She worked two jobs: evenings and weekends as a waitress at Eddie Bohn's Pig 'N Whistle, and weekdays as a receptionist at King Soopers' main office. It was there she met and later married William (Bill) Boggess-affectionately known as "Mr. Wonderful"-in 1971. Together, they shared a loving, adventurous life filled with travel, entertaining, gardening, and volunteer work.
Phyllis and Bill were deeply involved with The Salvation Army, contributing time, energy, and financial support to numerous programs. As a member of the Women's Auxiliary, Phyllis hosted monthly birthday parties for homeless men at the Safe Harbors facility, led craft projects for seniors at the Red Shield Center, participated in annual holiday bell-ringing, and helped organize the annual Christmas Doll Tea, where she managed "Mother Hubbard's Cupboard" for several years. She baked and canned food at all hours, and drawing on another of her superpowers-generosity-donated it all.
In 1991, The Salvation Army awarded Phyllis the John Streltzer Memorial Volunteer Award and in 1995 she was honored with the prestigious "Doll of the Year" award by The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary.
Phyllis was a devoted cookie baker, delivering homemade treats to the local fire station, neighbors, friends, family, and even the trash collectors. She had a gift for winning hearts-sometimes through cookies, sometimes with a smile and a kind word. She loved bringing people together and hosting parties, a talent at which she excelled. Everyone who entered her home was treated royally-with patience, respect, love, and a touch of sass.
In addition to her work with The Salvation Army, in her later years, Phyllis was a dedicated member of Open Door Fellowship in central Denver, where she assisted many members of the congregation and was deeply loved.
She is survived by her daughters, Anne Chism (Jack) and Sally Karp (Stuart); her step-son, Michael Boggess (Kellun); her sister, Margery Brown; and grandchildren: Brian Karp (Lindsay Berryhill), Cheryl Quisling (John), Summer Boggess-Hertz (Brian Hertz), Sierra Boggess (Stefano Da Fré), Allegra Boggess, Ross Chism (Richelle), and Christy Chism. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Christopher Dey. Phyllis also leaves behind great-grandchildren: Shae Pulst, Taylor Wood (Trevor); Stephan Chism; Kylie, Cassidy, and Korban Karp; Kaden and Emerson Quisling; as well as great-great-grandchildren Cash and Maisie Wood, along with many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.
A celebration of her "Phabulous" life will be held on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Fairmount Mortuary, 430 South Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80247.
If you would like to honor "Phabulous" Phyllis, the following charities would gratefully receive contributions to continue their good work:
· Colorado Humane Society (formerly The Denver Dumb Friends Buddy Center) 4556 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO 80109
· Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, 1370 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, CO 80203
· Longhopes Donkey Shelter, 66 North Dutch Valley Road, Bennett, CO 80102
· Open Door Fellowship, 1567 Marion Street, Denver, CO 80218
Love & Blessings
Bye for now
"Those who touch our lives stay in our hearts forever." To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis, please visit our floral store.