Phyllis Leschber

Phyllis Leschber On Thursday, February 28, 2008, Phyllis Leschber went to be with the Lord following sudden complications after heart surgery. Now there is an angel we all know. Frances Phyllis Malish was born to a Czech father (William Malish) and Wendish mother (Frances Simank) on December 20, 1940, in Taylor, Texas. She first lived in Granger and then her family moved to Thrall where she spent most of her childhood. Growing up, Phyllis enjoyed playing on her grandparent's farm in Detmold. Sometimes you would catch her in the hen house crawling into the nests. In grade school, she skipped 2nd grade. In high school, she played basketball, volleyball, softball. She was also a majorette and drum major in the band. In 1958, Phyllis graduated from Thrall High School as valedictorian. Six months later, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert. They enjoyed 49 years together and had two beautiful daughters. After they got married, they lived in Austin and Robert commuted to Southwest Texas State University (SWTS) while she got a job at the Telephone Company. After a couple of years, they moved to San Marcos so they could both go to school. While at SWTS, she worked in the Dean's office as a secretary. After Robert graduated in 1962, they moved to Universal City for a couple of months and their first daughter Melanie was born. In the fall of 1962, Robert got a job in Austin at the Health Department. In Austin, she enrolled again at the University of Texas where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Ten years later, she had another daughter, Shantelle. Phyllis spent her career working for the legislature at the state capitol with various congressmen for over 25 years where she finally retired. Her bosses over the years included the Honorable Griffith Moore, Honorable Bill Coody, the Honorable Sam Johnson, and the Honorable Brian McCall. Phyllis was the type of person that always put everyone else first; she was a selfless soul. Almost all who knew her said "she was like a mom to me" or "the best friend I ever had." God could have never created a more loving mother, grandmother, sister, wife, aunt, daughter, or friend. She loved her Dr. Pepper, black licorice, playing slot machines, Doris Day movies, shopping at Savers, cooking, baking, and snuggling with her grandchildren. She was affection- ately called "Gram" or "Grammy" by her grandchildren. They were the nearest and dearest to her heart, as well as them to her. She was at the birth of all of her grandchildren, except one who decided to come early. She loved animals and was blessed with the gift of caring for them. She took in all the animals that would somehow wind up on her doorstep. There was never a time that the Leschber household didn't have an animal in it. Over her lifetime she raised numerous cottontails, jack rabbits, birds, turtles, donkeys, ducks, and cats. Most recently she took in a feral cat and her offspring, she was in the process of getting them tame so she could spay and neuter them. She was the best cook/baker and always had cookies in the cookie jar or cake on the table. She was also a pretty handy seamstress. She sewed many Barbie and doll clothes for her two daughters. Being a twirler herself, Phyllis instilled the skill on her daughter Shantelle. Shantelle twirled competitively for a number of years and was feature twirler at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Phyllis and her husband either drove or flew to Atlanta to watch her perform at every game. She is survived by her husband, Robert Leschber; her children, Melanie Sherman and her husband Dr. Jon Sherman, Shantelle Grace and her husband Tom; her mother Frances Malish; her brother Bill Malish; grandchildren, Sydney Sherman, Matthew Sherman, Jax Grace, and Annaliese Grace; nephews and nieces, Shannon Johnson, Dr. Haven Malish, Dr. Sterling Malish, Marshall Melcher, Melissa Shultz, Sonya Holle, Tasha Speier; Granddogs, Maggie, Callie, Summer, and her constant companion Cassie, as well as, two grandcats, Zoe and Penny; one bluejay J. W., one dog, Fritz, and numerous turtles. Phyllis was preceded in death by her father; William Malish. Visitation will be Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church with funeral services to follow at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Dave Schroeder as the officiant. Graveside service at 12:00 p.m. after church service at Taylor City Cemetery in Taylor, Tx. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in her name to the Hereditary Angioedema Association (www.haea.org) or the Austin Humane Society (www.austinhumanesociety.org).