Phyllis M. Schmidtke

Portsmouth – Phyllis Ardell Mason Schmidtke, 90 of Kill Devil Hills, NC, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 5, 2016 surrounded by her loving family.  Phyllis was born January 31, 1926 in Portsmouth, VA to Harold Bruce Mason and Minnie Rose Mason.

Phyllis met her beloved husband, Jim, at the USO during WWII.  They were married 62 years and shared a love of dancing and travel throughout their lives.   Phyllis worked as the executive secretary to the Captain of the Naval Electronic Systems Engineering Center, Portsmouth for many years.  A position she dearly loved from which she retired in 1986. Upon retirement she enjoyed spending time in the Outer Banks with her family, playing bingo and cards with her close circle of friends she had since childhood.

Phyllis is predeceased by her husband, James (Jim) Robert Schmidtke and daughter, Cynthia (Cindy) Schmidtke Scheuermann.

Left to cherish her memory are her brother Robert (Bob) Bruce Mason, her children, Patricia (Patty) Kitchens, Jean Denny (Wayne), Pamela (Pam) Collins (Eddie); her grandchildren, Frances (Fran) Hannebrink (Kevin), Katherine (Katie) Hooper (Justin), Sarah & Lydia Scheuermann, Melissa & Kevin Collins; and her great-grandchildren Alicia Suarez and James Mason Hooper.

The family wishes to express their sincere love and gratitude to their mom’s devoted care givers, Rita Waterfield and Gail Hayes for their loving care over the past several years.  Special thanks also to Dare Home Health and  Hospice.  Special thanks also to Rose Jones, R.N. and East Coast Caregivers, Inc.

Condolences may be expressed and memorial details may be found on the Gallop Funeral Services, Inc.  website:  www. gallopfuneralservices.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Phyllis’s favorite charity Operation Smile at www.operationsmile.org.