Phyllis Spruell

Services for Mrs. Phyllis Matthews Spruell, 59, of Amarillo, TX formerly of Canadian, TX will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at the First Christian Church in Canadian, TX with Matt Cook, officiating. Burial will be in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery in Canadian under the direction of Hughs Funeral Home of Canadian, TX. Phyllis passed away Saturday, August 6, 2011 in Amarillo, TX. Phyllis was born November 15, 1951 in Oklahoma City, OK to the late Mr. Rudene Matthews and Mrs. Lucille (Jones) Matthews. She attended grammar schools in Canadian and Sayre, OK and was a 1970 graduate of Cheyenne High School in Cheyenne, OK. She then went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK. After graduating college in 1973 she moved back to Canadian to begin her career in teaching. She married William F. Spruell on February 28, 1975 in Canadian, TX. While teaching at Baker Elementary she taught kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade and the dyslexia remedial reading education. In 2002 after 29 years of teaching she retired but continued to tutor kids from her home until June 2007, when they moved to Amarillo. Phyllis started the dyslexia program in the Canadian Independent School District. She was past president of Texas State Reading Association, past president of Retired Teachers Association Canadian Chapter, member of the Teachers Sorority and a volunteer with the Hemphill County Hospice. She is preceded in death by one brother, Calvin Hillman. She is survived by her husband, William Spruell of Amarillo, TX; one son, Jeff Spruell and wife Casey of Amarillo, TX; one daughter, Carlene Burris and husband Billy of Lubbock, TX; one brother, Tom Campbell and wife Kim of Amarillo, TX; three sisters, Venita Conway and husband Bob of Amarillo, TX; Francis Wylie and husband Larry of Clinton, OK; Ann McKissick of Victoria, TX; four grandchildren, Keshia Gaylean of Cincinnati, OH; Joshua Snyder of Lubbock, TX; Taran and Brysan Spruell both of Amarillo, TX. The family suggests memorials to Smile Train, 41 Madison Ave., 28th Floor, New York, NY 10010.