COTTINGHAM, Phillis (DUEY FIGHT (1912 -2007)

COTTINGHAM, DUEY, FIGHT, HOWARD, EFT, WALSTON, HAMILTON

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 2/20/2021 at 22:10:12

Obituary for Phyllis Cottingham

Phyllis Lucile Duey Fight Cottingham, 94, passed away of natural causes on Sunday, February 25, at Clear Lake, IA.

Born on September 21, 1912 in Republic County, Kansas, Phyllis was the oldest of 12 children of Clarence Martin Duey and Edna Myrtle Howard. Phyllis spent much of her youth on the family dairy farm near Chester, Nebraska.

After graduating from high school with honors, she took the Normal Training courses and taught in rural schools beginning in Nebraska at the age of 17. Later, while teaching in Iowa, she met Rollie Verl Fight, also a teacher. They were married in Bloomfield, Iowa on May 28, 1938. She assumed the role of mother to her new stepson and was a successful homemaker and mother to their 4 children. Phyllis and Rollie farmed mostly near Derby, Humeston, and LeRoy, Iowa. Rollie passed away on October 31, 1980, at the age of 79.

Phyllis served as a 4-H club leader for many years, was active in Yorel Study Club, LeRoy Presbyterian Church, Velda Rose United Methodist Church in Mesa, AZ, and the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake, Iowa. She had a great love for reading and enjoyed music. Following several government jobs in Decatur County, Iowa, Phyllis was honored by the Leon Business and Professional Women's Organization as Woman of the Year in 1984.
Later that year Phyllis moved to Mesa, AZ and married Lloyd Cottingham on December 12, 1984. He passed away in 1994. Phyllis returned to Iowa in 2002 and lived in the Courtyard Assisted Living in Clear Lake until her death. Phyllis is survived by her stepson, Gerald Eugene Fight of Fallbrook, CA; sons, Larry Verl (Erma) Fight of Davenport, IA; Roger Dean (Kristi) Fight, Sequim, WA; daughters, Kathleen Edna (John) Eft, Clive, IA; and Norma Lee (Roger) Walston, Clear Lake, IA. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren; two brothers, two sisters; and by her special friend, Newell Hamilton of Mesa, AZ.

Preceding her in death were husbands Rollie Verl Fight and Lloyd Cottingham; grandson Timothy Jay Fight; four sisters and three brothers. Phyllis requested that no public services be held but a family memorial will take place at a later date. Inurnment will be at the Derby Cemetery.

Source: Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel