Phyllis Mary Dunham

Phyllis Mary (Lohman) Dunham, age 81, of Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, went to be with her Lord and Savior, peacefully on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Phyllis was born to Willie “Fred” and Evelyn (Stewart) Lohman on May 6, 1942, in Ventura, California.

As a child, Phyllis’s family moved to Del City, Oklahoma where she went on to graduate from Del City High in 1960.

She went to work at Tinker Air Force Base where she met the love of her life, Kenny Dunham. At the time, she worked inspecting airplane blades that he would later have to weld to repair. The two were married on August 29th, 1969, in Valley Brooke, Oklahoma. She and her family moved to Bethel Acres in 1979 to enjoy the country life. Phyllis went on to work as a Quality Control Inspector of planes and a Scheduling Supervisor before she retired from Tinker in 2011 after 42 years of Civil Service.  

She was passionate about serving her country, community, family, and children. She was dedicated to helping others and was active in the community. She donated much of her free time to the Community Center and helped to establish the Bethel Ball Park. She spent hours on ball fields as a scorekeeper and a coach’s assistant. She was a Camp Fire parent/leader for many years to the Bethel Adventures. She even dressed as the Statue of Liberty and walked nearly 10 miles with the girl’s troupe to raise money for the renovation of the statue. She was always willing to help.

Of all her titles over the years Grandma Kenny was her favorite. Her grandkids, whom she cherished, called her husband Grandpa Kenny and they assumed she was named Kenny too and the name stuck. She loved taking care of and spending time with her family, traveling and adventuring with her husband on the road, planting flowers and making beautiful things. She was very talented and seemed to master anything she set her mind to. She made Halloween costumes, Christmas PJ’s and decorated birthday and wedding cakes. She painted, crocheted afghans, and cross stitched. She loved to cook and has more cookbooks than you could imagine. She loved canning and making jelly and preserves. Holidays were big events and always over the top. From her Monkey Bread to her 4th of July famous Milkyway Ice Cream, she always fixed everyone’s favorites and there was always enough to feed an army.

Phyllis was quick with a smile and generous with her love. She treated everyone like family. Through her civil service, community work, and her unselfish spirit she touched so many lives.


 Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Willie “Fred” and Evelyn Lohman; and daughter, Amanda Diana O'Neal.

Survivors include her husband of 55 years of the home, Kenny Dunham; son, Phillip Brewer; daughters, Bree Dunham and Jennifer Randell, Jerica and husband Derick Southwell; 7 grandchildren; Kaylee and husband Cole Nelson, Cody Brewer, Brandi Fulton, Brandon Troxell, Brittini O’Neal, Logan and Konner Southwell and 11 great grandchildren; Gabe and Avary Wiggins, Braxton and Adrian Troxell, Illisa and Wyatt Lalli, Layli O’Neal, Josie, Elliot and Bodie Nelson, and Krimson Troxell, and many nieces, nephews and other extended family and cherished friends.        

 A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home Tecumseh, Oklahoma. To share memories, or to sign the guest book on-line, go to www.cooperfuneral.com.

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