Former Bluffton resident, Phyllis Mary Bixel, 94, died Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Freeman S.D.

She was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Carlton and Erma (Sanford) Newton on Aug. 17, 1922.

Phyllis graduated from Western Michigan University in 1945 with a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy and spent her first years of employment working at the Kalamazoo State Hospital, where her husband-to-be, James W. Bixel, was also employed as musical director through Civilian Public Service.

Phyllis and James were married Nov. 3, 1945. They moved to Bluffton, Ohio in 1960, and then to Freeman in 1990. James died in Freeman on March 17, 1999.

Phyllis was a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, First Mennonite Church in Bluffton, and the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church of rural Freeman.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Carlton and Erma; two brothers, David and Loel; and a sister, Shirley Mejeur. Her surviving sister, Eunice Mosier (Carl), lives in Leesburg, Florida. 

Phyllis is also survived by her two daughters and their husbands: Mary and Tim L. Waltner and Sara and John Schrag; four grandchildren and their significant others: Eric and Christina Schwendeman, Christopher Schwendeman and Jennifer Cooper, Jeremy and Stacey Waltner and AnnaMarie and Roy Cornett; and eight great-grandchildren: Samantha Schwendeman, Hannah Schwendeman, Olivia Schwendeman, Riley Pochodzay, Sophie Cornett, Ella Waltner, Oliver Waltner and Miller Cornett. 

A private family graveside service is planned at the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery March 25 and a Celebration of Life gathering will be held at a later date.

Memorials should be directed to the Freeman Prairie Arboretum.