Phyllis Jean Kottman, 81, Atchison, KS, passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the Atchison Hospital surrounded by family.

Memorial Services will be 10:00 AM, Monday, December 21, 2015 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Atchison. Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha, KS. Family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Sunday, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in honor of Phyllis are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left in care of the funeral home. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Phyllis Jean Rathburn was born on August 31, 1934, in Wallace, MO, the daughter of Norman and Beulah (Bush) Rathburn. Upon graduation from high school in DeKalb, MO, Phyllis began working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone. She retired from Southwestern Bell after 40 years of service, having worked in both the Atchison and St. Joseph offices. Phyllis was an active member in the Rushville (MO) Christian Church for many years. While her kids were in school, Phyllis was a member of the DeKalb Booster Club and Parent/Teacher’s Association of the school. She was also a member of the Pioneer’s Club through her association with AT&T and Southwestern Bell. Phyllis enjoyed doing embroidery work and especially loved being with her family and cooking family dinners for them.

Phyllis and Gale Stacy were married in 1954. They later divorced. Phyllis then married Fred Kottman in 1966 in Atchison. Fred preceded her in death on March 21, 2010. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Norma Jean Rathburn.

Survivors include her children, Susan (James) Klawuhn, Valley Falls, KS; Steven (Paula) Stacy, Rolla, MO, Toni (Ramsey) Hagan, Eudora, KS and Charles Kottman, Rushville; grandchildren, Megan (Eric) Belveal, Melissa (Alvin) Hoffman, Joshua (Beth) Stacy, Jason Stacy, Hannah Hagan, Jesse Dennison, Skylar Dennison, George Hagan, Carolyn Kottman, Parker Kottman, Brody Kottman, and Izzy Kottman; five great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Ann Cooper, Gower, MO.