Phyllis Seifert

Phyllis JoAnne (Walker) Seifert, age 94, of Osborne, Kansas, formerly of Harper, Kansas, passed away on February 7^th, 2026, at Village Manor in Abilene, Kansas, due to late-stage dementia. She was born January 26, 1932, at Galloway Hospital in Anthony, Kansas, to Dick and Velma Walker.

Phyllis attended school in Anthony, Kansas, completed the 2^nd grade in Harper, Kansas, and the 5^th grade in St. John, Kansas. She graduated from Anthony High School in 1946.

After high school, Phyllis worked at Crossroads Restaurant in Anthony, Kansas, the Telephone Company in Elkhart, Kansas, and at the Gas & Light Company in Harper, Kansas.

Phyllis met Charles Edward Seifert, and they were united in marriage on June 7^th, 1953. Charles was a farmer and rancher, and Phyllis enjoyed working alongside him throughout their marriage.

Together, Phyllis and Charles had two sons: James Edward Seifert, born November 19^th, 1955, and Timothy Alan Seifert, born April 4^th, 1962. Charles passed away on October 21, 1993, from ALS.

Phyllis drove a school bus for 38 years for the Harper, Kansas, school district #361. She was honored to be selected as a driver for the Atlanta, Georgia, Summer Olympics in 1996.

In her younger years, Phyllis was quite the songbird and was known for her beautiful singing voice. She and the Carr family recorded a gospel album at a studio in Wichita, Kansas. Phyllis also sang at numerous weddings and funerals in the Anthony area and was recognized for her strong soprano voice at church and other vocal events.

Phyllis was an excellent cook who was known to say that if you went hungry, it was your own fault.

After Charles passed, Phyllis continued to live on the farm in Harper, Kansas, until 2017 when she developed dementia and moved to Osborne, Kansas. There, she was able to live independently with the help of her family until 2025, when her son Tim was diagnosed with cancer. In December, Phyllis moved to Village Manor in Abilene, Kansas, 2025, where she could receive the extra care, her family could no longer provide. Her granddaughter, Jessica, who lives in Abilene, helped care for her after the move.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Seifert; her parents, Velma and Dick Walker; her sister, Joyce Walker; her brother-in-law, William Walker; and her son, Timothy Seifert.

Phyllis is survived by her sibling, Phyllip Hays, and his wife Toni of Cheyenne, Wyoming; her son James and his wife Dolores Seifert of Harper, Kansas; and her daughter-in-law Terri Seifert of Osborne, Kansas. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Alissa and Chris Reid of Haysville, Kansas; Blythe and Cory Winkelmann of Peyton, Colorado; Jessica and Johnathan Breland of Abilene, Kansas; Sarah and Brandon Knoles of Grant, Nebraska; Charlie Seifert of Emporia, Kansas; and five great-grandchildren.