Phyllis Hershey Carlson

PHYLLIS HERSHEY CARLSON Overland Park - Phyllis Hershey Carlson died in her Overland Park home in the early hours of May 29th, following a several-years-long fight with oral cancer. She was born in Upland, California on August 22nd, 1930 to Laona Pearl Book Hershey and Charles Hershey. In her ninety-two years, Phyllis was known and loved for being inquisitive, open-minded, dynamic, adventuresome, persistent, and particularly committed to caring for others. Her father worked as a custodian and beekeeper. Money was often tight for the family. Her mother was creative to ensure there was enough to eat and stylish, handmade dresses for church. There is no doubt that Phyllis inherited something of the restlessness and ingenuity that marked those years in the Hershey household. By kindergarten, for instance, she had already denounced her given name: Laona. Phyllis was shaped by her baptism in the Brethren in Christ (BIC) church. In high school in Upland, she grew skeptical about some of the church's teachings. In 1949, she entered Messiah College in Pennsylvania, where she met her husband of nearly seventy years, Bob Carlson. In 1953, Phyllis married Bob, graduated with a degree in Education, and got her first teaching job. Phyllis then made the difficult decision to abandon the strict BIC dress code and head-covering. Phyllis and Bob moved to San Anselmo, CA where Bob was in seminary. This was a freeing time for Phyllis who encountered, "an openness to...and discussion about religious ideas." In 1957, Phyllis gave birth to her first child, Steve. Her second child, Chris, was born in 1959. That year, the young family moved to D.C. where Bob was chaplain at Junior Village, a youth residential center. The family moved to Newton, Kansas where Bob was the Associate Pastor at Bethel College Mennonite Church. In 1962, Phyllis gave birth to her third child, Beth. She took early motherhood in stride, maintaining the household while Bob worked. Phyllis's creative and instructive spirit pulled her back to the classroom. Phyllis earned her Master's degree in educational psychology from Wichita State in 1969. In the '60s and '70s, Phyllis was deeply stirred by the women's movement. She made adjustments to her role as a wife and mother, and led her sixth grade class in a protest of gender discrimination that nearly got her firedthe petition to allow girls to sign up for Shop and boys for Home Ec was ultimately successful. In Newton, she created a women's investing club, and years later forged community among women by starting the women's lunch group at Rainbow Mennonite Church (RMC). A charismatic and inventive teacher, Phyllis taught fifth and sixth grade in the Newton public school system for eighteen years. Her professional accomplishments included creating an individualized reading program, being the first Newton teacher to use a computer in the classroom, and teaching the stock market with a math program. In 1991, she received the "Woman of the Year" Education Award in the Newton Kansan for her impressive career. Phyllis was the first woman chairperson of the Bethel College Mennonite Church Board of Directors and Congregation. She also served on the Bethel College Board of Directors for twelve years. In 1981, Bob and Phyllis traveled to nine Asian countries where Phyllis taught English in Japan, Singapore, and at a refugee camp in Vietnam. In 1991, Phyllis and Bob moved to Tokyo, Japan. For four years, Phyllis taught sixth grade at Nishimachi International School. In 1997, they moved to Overland Park. In retirement, Phyllis found a spiritual home at Rainbow, served on a number of church committees, led small groups, taught writing classes at Lansing Correctional Facility and was immersed in her community. In addition she volunteered with MCC, at Ten Thousand Villages, and the Heart of America Japan American Society. Phyllis was artistically, spiritually, and physically active throughout her life. She was a skilled wheat weaver and quilter, biked across Kansas, sailed, won a wind-surfing contest, and climbed Mt. Fuji. Phyllis and Bob traveled to forty-seven states and over eighteen countries. "I would define myself," she said, "as being a searcherand always a searcher." She is survived by her husband Bob Carlson, children, Steve Carlson, Chris and Shawn Ashby, Beth Carlson, and grandchildren, Spencer Carlson and Julia Poppy, Bryn Carlson, Griffin Carlson, Matt and Jodie Asbhy, Maude Ashby and Devin Kaveler. Her Celebration of Life will be at Rainbow Mennonite Church, 1444 SW Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103 on Saturday, June 10, at 11:00 am. The celebration will be broadcast live on the Rainbow Mennonite Church YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@rainbowmennonitechurchkc6685/streams Phyllis' ashes will rest in the Rainbow Mennonite Church Remembrance Garden and also at Bethel College Mennonite Church columbarium in North Newton, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, Phyllis requested that memorial contributions may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) or Rainbow Mennonite Church (RMC) in her honor. Her full obituary will be available online early next week at this link: https://www.cremationcenterkc.com/obituaries Phyllis Hershey Carlson