Phyllis Gay Standard

Phyllis Gay Standard of Mertzon, TX, was called home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ April 18, 2025. She passed away at home with her family.

Phyllis was born in Dallas, TX to Pete and Jaunita Cooley and big brother Tom Cooley. The family moved to Maljamar, NM and eventually settled in LocoHills, NM where she met the love of her life and best friend, Leon Standard. They married on March 9, 1962, and spent the next 63 years guiding him through the years. In 1970, Phyllis and Leon welcomed Leondra (Lee) into the world and in August of 1970 they moved to Odessa, TX. There Phyllis spent the next 20 years being a homemaker, teacher, and a florist. She was a founding member of Calvary Baptist Church and them a member of Temple Baptist Church where she developed many close friendships that became family over the years. She spent many summers following church buses taking kids to Six Flags and church camp and would not trade anything for those memories. In 1990, the family moved to Houston, Corpus Christi and finally settled in Mertzon, TX. She was a member of First Baptist Church Mertzon. The family developed a close relationship with then neighbors the Hale family, which continues today. Phyllis was proud of her adoptive grandson, Keith, becoming a deputy sheriff then getting married and becoming a father.

Phyllis loved to cook, paint, sew and travel. She loved to work with her hands, which is why she was a good florist and decorator. She just had an eye for it. She would often take Leon and Lee’s ideas and make them real; like decorating the county courthouse to Lee’s office building for Christmas.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Juanita Cooley, brother, Tom Cooley, and sister-in-laws, Joan, Beca and Donna.

Phyllis is survived by husband Leon, daughter Lee, sister-in-law Linda Donaughe (Rick) of Artesia, NM, brother-in-law Gary Standard of Midland, TX, grand dog Magz and a wide circle of extended family- Harvey Hale (Krystal), Keith Hale (Taylor) and Barbara Reese.

Celebration of Life will be held on May 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church Mertzon, 116 S. 1st St, Mertzon, TX

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Irion Co. Volunteer Fire Department Mertzon Station, PO Box 92 Mertzon, TX 79641.