Phyllis Cunningham

Phyllis Jean Cunningham, 90, of Beverly Hills, passed away on August 16, 2024, at her home surrounded by loved ones. Visitation will be Saturday, August 24th, at OakCrest Funeral Home from 6-8 pm in The Oak Room. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Sunday, August 25th at 2pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Assumption Waco with Father Joe as celebrant.

Phyllis was born on October 30, 1933 in Carrington, North Dakota to Alice Anderson and Domnic Hopkins. Phyllis lived in numerous places in North Dakota and resided in Spokane, Washington where she met the love of her life, Emmett Cunningham, Jr. who was serving in the Army and was stationed in Spokane. On their seventh date, they knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. They were married for 54 years before Emmett’s passing in 2007.

Phyllis was a stay-at-home Mom until her daughter was in the 6th grade. She went back into the work force as a substitute teachers’ aide. She substituted at numerous schools in the Waco area. Phyllis was also a CCD Sunday school teacher for many years at St. Mary’s. She was a Cub Scout den leader when her boys were young and a Campfire Girl Leader when her daughter was young. She loved being surrounded by children.

Phyllis had a love for hummingbirds and her plants. She loved being outdoors but never liked the Texas summers. On her 70th birthday, she went tandem jumping and absolutely loved it. She and her husband would go on cruises, with her best one being to Alaska. They also loved to go to Shreveport and Las Vegas. They traveled almost every summer to visit family in Pennsylvania and Washington state. If Emmett had to work and couldn’t go, Phyllis would load up the 3 kids and travel by bus. She instilled in all her kids the importance of family. She will be greatly missed but the family knows her husband, and all her other loved ones, were delighted to see her once again.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her oldest son, a sister and a brother.

She is survived by her son, Daniel Cunningham of Beverly Hills; daughter, Mary Cunningham Wolfe of Lorena; sister, Annette Corrigan and husband, Barry of Scranton, PA; six grandsons, Josh Cunningham and wife, Cassandra, Justin Cunningham, Jeff Cunningham and wife, Kelly, Robert (R.J.) Wolfe, Michael Wolfe, and Christopher Wolfe; and 9 great grandchildren, Tristan and wife, Liz, Taylor, Gavin, Trace, Dylan, Tanner, Ava, and Ben.
Pallbearers will be her beloved grandsons, Josh Cunningham, Justin Cunningham, Jeff Cunningham, Robert Wolfe, Michael Wolfe and Christopher Wolfe.

A special thanks from the entire family to Bluebonnet Hospice Health Services.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Assumption in Waco, Texas.