Phyllis Darlene Robertson

Phyllis Darlene (Tchida) Meyers Robertson passed away November 6, 2024 at Epworth Villa in Oklahoma City, Ok. She was born August 5th, 1935, in Veblen, S.D. to John and Olga (Sorenson) Tchida and was the oldest of 7 children. The family lived on a farm near Lake City, S.D until she had to go to high school in Sisseton, S.D. She dropped out of high school in her sophomore year and went to Oregon where she worked as a switch board operator. She came back to Sisseton and met a barn builder from Oklahoma named Joe Meyers. She married him in 1954 and moved to the farm near Cooperton, Ok. where they had 3 children in 3 years.

She was baptized at birth in the Catholic Church because of her father and into the Lutheran Church because of her mother. After moving to Oklahoma, she attended the First Christian Church in Cooperton, Ok and was baptized December 1st, 1957. She later attended the St. John Lutheran Church in Lawton and was instrumental in getting their pre-school started and also serving on their school board.

She always had a quest for further knowledge and decided to go back to school. She went to Southwestern State University (without a high school diploma) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Education in 1965. She always said she was the only high school dropout to get a doctorate in education. After graduating from college, she taught high school English and Speech at Cache, Gotebo, and Ft. Sill Indian School. In 1977, she received her Master of Education at Oklahoma University.

After 4 years at the Indian School, she worked as a counselor at the Ft. Sill Education Center. She then accepted a position in the U S Army Field Artillery School as a program manager in the Directorate of Training and Doctrine. During this time in her life, she received her Doctor of Education at Oklahoma University.

After working as program manager for 2 years at Ft. Sill, she accepted a position as a training evaluator with the Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization. She then moved from the Deputy to the Director position. She was not only the first woman to hold that post, but she was also the first civilian. The position was like being a Colonel and the job was an extension of teaching which remained her passion. She retired after 27 years in 2003.

During her time at Ft. Sill, she received The Ancient Order of Saint Barbara Award. This award is reserved for those members of the artillery community who have achieved long-term, exceptional service to the artillery surpassing even their brethren in the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The approving authority for this award was the Commanding General, United States Army Field Artillery Center at Ft. Sill.

After retiring from Ft. Sill, she accepted a position with Aviation Training Consulting as the Director of Instructional Systems Development where she worked for 10 years before retiring in 2013.

After her retirement she didn't slow down. She joined the humane society in 2000 and became the president of the Lawton - Comanche County Humane Society in 2008.

In 2010, she envisioned a dog park project for Lawton. She presented a proposal to the City of Lawton, and they provided her with a grant of $5,000. Major General Lee Baxter and wife, Terri, matched the grant money and the building of the "Vito Baxter Puppy Promenade" named for the Baxter's beloved bulldog was started. It was completed in 2011.

Phyllis was also a member of Rotary Club in Lawton and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

After many years in Lawton, she decided to move to Oklahoma City to Epworth Villa Independent Living. She enjoyed playing poker with her friends and visiting with many others.

Phyllis is survived by 3 children:

Robert (Bob) Meyers and wife Barbara of OKC

Teresa (Meyers) Heller and husband Terry, Gotebo, OK

Joseph (Joey) Meyers Jr. and wife LaRenda, Corn, OK

4 grandchildren

Rashelle Everett, Lawton

Dusty Heller and wife Jessi , Gotebo, OK

Dallon Heller and wife Lori, Gotebo, OK

Emily Campbell and husband Kyle, Corn, OK

6 great grandchildren

Brook Graham and husband Gavin, OKC

Aubrey Heller, Gotebo

Grady Heller, Gotebo

Weston Heller, Gotebo

Valley Heller, Gotebo

Baylor Campbell, Corn

Her Brothers

Jerry Tchida and wife Jean, Boring, Oregon

Rodney Tchida and wife Diana, Georgetown Texas

Sidney Tchida and partner Barb Clark, Bristol, South Dakota

Her Sister

Holly (Tchida) Gunderson and husband Tom, Piedmont, South Dakota

Preceding Phyllis in death were a sister, Ina Fincher, and a brother, Richard Tchida.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gotebo First Baptist Church Kitchen Renovation PO Box 210 Gotebo, OK 73041

Funeral: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 9, 2024

First Baptist Church

Gotebo, Oklahoma

Interment: Gotebo Cemetery

Gotebo, Oklahoma

Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Hobart, OK