Phyllis D. (Martin) Royer passed away on Thursday evening, June 4, 2026 at Accura Health Care Center in Shenandoah.  Private family services will be held in the Rose Hill Cemetery at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the Essex Fire and Rescue Department in her name.

Phyllis Darlene Martin was born on April 29, 1934 a farm outside of Shenandoah in Fremont County, Iowa.  She was the daughter of Johnnie "Jack" and Lylas (Bright) Martin.  Phyllis entered into eternal rest on June 4, 2026 at Accura Health Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa.

Phyllis attended county school thru the 8th grade in Fremont County.  She won an award for being the student with the highest grades, despite her being 2 years younger then the other students.  She graduated from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1951 at the age of 16 years.

On April 27, 1952 she was united in marriage to Donald Lee Royer in Shenandoah, Iowa.  In 1954, Don and Phyllis moved to Denver, CO where he took a job at the Gates Rubber Factory.  The couple then returned to Southwest Iowa in 1955 where Don started his journey into farming.  The couple lived in Shenandoah and later in Essex for over 50 years.  Phyllis work at Hand Hospital and later was the head of the Medical Records Department for the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital for many years.  She was a loving a dedicated wife and mother.  She was a member of the Essex Presbyterian Church and the Merry Mixers.  Her hobbies included reading, knitting, crocheting and traveling. The couple enjoyed over 30 years of wintering in Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Lylas; her step-father Robert "Bus" Hubbard; her beloved husband of 69 years Don; her loving son Jerry Lee Royer; sister Juanita Falk; and step-brother Larry Hubbard.  Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter Judy McGee and husband Patrick of Kansas City, MO; step-grandson Patrick Mason McGee and wife Katie and their children Carter and Madison; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.