Phyllis I. Kelsey 2
- Born: 5 Dec 1926, Cooksburg, Albany, NY 2 3 4
- Marriage (1): Edwin Eugene Beechert on 25 Aug 1946 in Westerlo, Albany, NY 1
- Died: 11 May 2017, Albany, Albany, NY at age 90 2 4
- Crem.: Greenville, Greene, NY 2
FamilySearch ID: GJVG-K4Y.
Noted events in her life were:
1. Census in 1950 in Greenville, Greene, NY. 5 The 1950 census recorded living on Route 32: Edwin Beechert, truck driver for feed delivery company, 24, living with wife Phyllis K., 23. They were born in New York.
2. Residence: in 2009 in Greenville, Westchester, NY. 3
3. LifeSketch: in 2017, in Greenville, Greene, NY. Phyllis Beechert, daughter of Roy and Dorothy (Cook) Kelsey, is a life-long resident, born in Cooksburg, and schooled, first, in Cooksburg, then Durham, and finally Greenville\emdash graduating with the GCS Class of '43\emdash and that sense of community has defined Phyllis's life.
Phyllis's father had driven the Stage Route delivering mail, and later made trips to the Catskill Railroad Station, picking up freight and delivering it to the Cooksburg, Preston Hollow and Potter Hollow area. Her father, when automobiles supplanted the horse, would drive the Kelsey Bus Line, with daily trips made to the Catskill Point on the Hudson River, meeting the Day Boat sailing up from New York City.
Phyllis married Edwin Beechert, whom she had known from high school, adopted two children, moved to Greenville's South Street, worked as a housewife and at a variety of places throughout town (most fondly, at Van Auken Express, with Ruth Van Auken, a fellow Cooksburger), and watched her new house be constructed on Rt 32 north of Bryant's, becoming involved with the community in her own right and as a companion of her husband's activities (Greenville Volunteer Fire Company, GCS School Board, and others).
After enduring her husband's death in 1977, and her mother's death in 1978, Phyllis followed a lifelong dream and became a licensed practical nurse in 1981, working at Albany Medical Center and later, as many know first-hand, in private home care when needed in the area.
She finally retired in 2001, and later moved to Country Estates.
However, it is not these "ordinary" details of life for which we recognize Phyllis Beechert. It is the many other activities of Greenville life that she undertook, and fulfilled, in her pleasant and productive manner.
Among them:
Charter member/life member (1969) Greenville Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary
Member Greene County Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary
Charter member/life member Greenville Rescue Squad in 1971; served 22 years; held office of secretary in early years
Dispatched emergency fire/rescue calls from home, 24 hours a day (for years)
Elected treasurer of Greenville Fire District #1 in 1978 by registered voters living in the boundaries of Greenville Fire District; appointed secretary of Board of Commissioners after assuming office of Treasurer at Fire District reorganization meeting 1978 to 1999
Served as Election Inspector annually and for other referendum votes during several years
1950 to 2000 \endash volunteer for American Cancer Society, served on Board of Directors in Greene County, coordinating door-to-door campaigning annually in Town of Greenville; also coordinated Greene County for two years
Member of Christ Episcopal Church in 1950 to present; member of Women's Guild; Altar Guild; various terms as member of Vestry; two terms as Senior Warden
Member of Greenville Local History Group since it formed in 1989
Member of Community Partners
Supporter of Greenville Library
Treasurer Greenville Area Interfaith Council and Greenville Area Food Pantry, 12 years, assisting in the Food Pantry operation until present time
Served as Chairman of Election Inspectors for Greenville Central School, updating voter register for an annual school district election and budget vote, other referendum votes, etc., that have taken place at various times during a period of 25 years
Was instrumental in organizing volunteer transportation for patients undergoing radiation, chemotherapy, and dialysis therapy
Went to nursing school in 1980
Many training classes required for Emergency Medical Training
Chosen the 2010 Greene County Senior Citizen of the Year; followed by annual Legislative appointment to the Greene County Senior Advisory Board.
The Greenville Local History Group recognizes Phyllis Beechert's years of service\emdash given unselfishly, gracefully, kindly\emdash and for being an integral part of Greenville life.
--- by Don Teator, Greenville Town Historian.
4. Obituary: Obituary of Phyllis Kelsey Beechert on 11 May 2017 in Greenville, Greene, NY. 4 GREENVILLE \endash Phyllis K. Beechert, 90, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Albany Medical Center after being stricken at home on Sunday. She was born on December 5, 1926 at home in Cooksburg to the late Roy D. and Dorothy Cook Kelsey. She was raised there and was a graduate of Greenville High School. Phyllis worked at the Pioneer Insurance Company as a keypunch operator. In 1980, she went to Nursing School and graduated as an LPN. She then worked as a private duty nurse. Phyllis was a member of Christ Episcopal Church since 1950, the Greenville Inter-Faith Council, a member of the Greenville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, a charter member of the Greenville Rescue Squad, volunteered at the Greenville Area Food Pantry, was a member of Community Partners, was a 2010 member of the Greene County Senior Citizens Advisory Board, and was a charter member of the Greenville Local History Group. In addition to her parents, Phyllis was predeceased by her husband, Edwin E. Beechert on May 15, 1977 and her sister, Virginia (Malcolm) Lloyd.
Phyllis is survived by her children, Kenneth G. (Barbara) Beechert and Sharon (James) Collins-Strong; her granddaughters, Alexandra "Alex" and Catherine "Cate" Collins; her step-grandchildren, Mary (Eric) Kunde, Katie (Kevin) Sill, Eric Bear (Kate Alessandrini); her step-great-grandchildren, Devin, Garret, Brooke, Audrey, Tucker, Abilene; her nephews, Lawrence and Martin Lloyd; and her niece, Brenda Wood.
As were her wishes, Phyllis has been privately cremated. Calling hours will be held on Thursday May 18th from 6 to 8pm at the A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 State Route 81, Greenville. A memorial service will be held on Friday May 19th at 11am at Christ Episcopal Church, State Route 32, Greenville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either Christ Episcopal Church, PO Box 278, or to Greenville Rescue Squad, PO Box 332, both in Greenville, NY 12083. Condolences can be posted at ajcunninghamfh.com.
Phyllis married Edwin Eugene Beechert, son of Edward Samuel Beechert and Lucy M. De Dea, on 25 Aug 1946 in Westerlo, Albany, NY.1 (Edwin Eugene Beechert was born on 16 Sep 1925 in , , NY,6 7 8 died on 15 May 1977 in Greenville, Greene, NY 4 6 7 and was buried in Greenville: Greenville Rural Cemetery, Greene, NY 7.)
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