Phyllis Hovland, 88, Houston, Texas

Phyllis was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on December 19, 1929. As a young girl, her family moved to Des Moines where Phyllis went on to graduate from Roosevelt High School.

After Graduation, Phyllis attended Gulf Park College for Women in Gulfport, Alabama, later transferring to the State University of Iowa (University of Iowa). While at the University of Iowa, Phyllis became a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and met her future husband, John Wayne Hovland of Webster City. Phyllis and John were married in September of 1950. The couple went on to raise their family in Webster City. Later, as an empty-nester, Phyllis worked as a Realtor for Jim Fortune Realty.

Phyllis and John retired to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2002. In Scottsdale, Phyllis rekindled her passion for art, attending the Scottsdale Artist’s School and becoming a prolific painter. After her husband’s passing in 2009, Phyllis remained in Scottsdale until moving to Houston in 2014 to be close to family.

Phyllis treasured the life-long friendships she made in both Webster City and Scottsdale. From the impromptu Friday night Spring-is-finally-here Cedar Street gatherings in Iowa, to the book club and painting workshop friendships of Scottsdale, Phyllis had a diverse and multi-generational collection of friends she considered to be near and dear. Despite her years, Phyllis remained young at heart. As one friend recently said, “Phyllis taught me much about aging gracefully (and that it is okay to lie about your age).”

Phyllis was proceeded in death by her parents, Curtis George Baker and Etta Mae Violet Baker, husband John Wayne Hovland, brother Curtis Raymond Baker and daughter Jan Hovland Reneau.

She is survived by her sons John (J.C.) Hovland (Blairsburg, Iowa) and James Hovland (Houston, Texas), and her grandchildren, James (Cody) Hovland (Houston, Texas), Casie Hovland (Houston, Texas) and Ryan Reneau (Austin, Texas).

Friends can leave remembrances at www.never-gone.com.