Phyllis Gilliam Witt

Phyllis Gilliam Witt was born July 5, 1938, to Thomas and Naomi Gilliam. Phyllis passed away on March 14, 2026, at her home in Des Moines with her daughter Teri by her side after a brief cancer diagnosis.

Phyllis was united in marriage to the love of her life J. Dick Witt. They resided in Des Moines where they raised their only daughter, Teri. They were married for 64 years before Dick passed away in September of 2024.

Teri blessed Dick and Phyllis with a grandson named Jimmy. Phyllis used to love taking Jimmy camping when he was younger, and then followed him around to the dirt tracks and watched him race as he got older. She was always there to show her love and support for him. Jimmy was the light of Phyllis’s life.

Phyllis also had a love for Christmas and her beautiful Christmas trees, yes more than one, that held so many beautiful lights and decorations. She enjoyed them so much, that she would put them up before Christmas and not take them down for quite a while after Christmas.

Phyllis had an undying love for her family and she would tell anyone she met just how much she loved them and how much they meant to her.

Phyllis is survived by her beloved daughter, Teri Witt Cosper; grandson, Jimmy (Monica) Gustin; granddaughter, Amanda Cosper; great granddaughters, Hanna Gustin, Adlea Gustin, and Libby Cosper; sister in law, Susan (Dan) Bauman; her beloved dog, Bella; as well as many extended family and friends.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Dick Witt; son in law, Randy Cosper; parents, Thomas and Naomi; and siblings, Jack, Tom, Wanda, Teeny, Joyce, Patty, Linda, and Nancy.

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