Phyllis Donovan Williamson

Phyllis Ann Donovan Williamson died at home on Saturday, Nov. 7, after living fully and positively with breast cancer for 15 years. She was 64.

She was the embodiment of kindness throughout her life. She helped and watched over the people she knew and the people she loved, holding scores of them close, remembering hundreds. It's likely she touched the lives of thousands in her career in retail sales, from her 25 years as "the bra lady" in the Bon Marche/Macy's lingerie department to her last, and favorite, job at the Broadway Pharmacy at St. Patrick Hospital.

Phyllis was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Jack and Betty Donovan on April 4, 1951. When her father died in 1967, Phyllis' mother moved with her four children to the family's ranch outside Livingston, their longtime dream. There Phyllis learned to ride horses, and she fell in love with Montana. She graduated from Park County High School in Livingston in 1969 and attended Montana State University.


In the mid-1970s, Phyllis met Allen Williamson, her perfect partner, and fell in love with him, his children, and his hometown of Chinook and the Bears Paw Mountains. They loved dancing to Ernest Tubb's "Waltz Across Texas," and together made friends all across the country. As the years passed, they made a promise embodied by a favorite quote: "Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.

In 1977, Phyllis and Allen welcomed their daughter Ann, who was born just after they settled in Missoula. Phyllis and Ann were close companions, and best friends. They talked about everything, and Phyllis' philosophy as a mom was to nurture her child's passion for life and to join in. She was Ann's Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher, and she was fiercely proud of her daughter as she earned a journalism degree at the University of Montana and became a news photographer. Phyllis welcomed Ann's husband, Alex Wiebel, into the family in 2011, and their baby son Brady with delight two years ago.

Phyllis nurtured her stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and countless friends as well, encouraging them to pursue their passions, sharing in their triumphs and trials, picking them up when they fell down. Phyllis was always non-judgmental, always supportive, and loved unconditionally. She had a strong Christian faith. She loved to read; among her favorite novels was "Winter Wheat," which she loved for writer Mildred Walker's descriptions of the landscapes, wind and sun of central Montana. She was a good baker and a great pie maker, and her peach pie was heavenly.

Phyllis made everyone she met feel special, and that talent shone the brightest during her years at the Bon, which became Macy's, in downtown Missoula. For a quarter century, she helped women get the right fit in bras. She had an intuitive understanding of women, how they felt and how they wanted to feel. She wanted everyone to feel comfortable and confident in her clothes, starting with the right bra. She remembered hundreds of customers' preferred brands and styles, and she was quick and honest in her estimation of a try at a new brand. "Hmmm, that won't work," she'd say, "but I have an idea" and come back soon with a better match. She never embarrassed the customer, instead encouraging her to keep trying until she left the store happy with her purchase. Macy's closed in 2010, leaving Phyllis' customers bereft and longing for a good fit and Phyllis' loving attention and warm smile.

Phyllis' family survives her: Allen Williamson at home in Missoula; daughter Ann Williamson, her husband Alex Wiebel and son Brady Wiebel of Topeka, Kansas; sister Pattie Harris and husband Jack of Cascade and their children and grandchildren Kristie, Shane, MacKenzie and Kadin LaCasse of Laurel; Jannaelle, Matt, Caleb, Gabe, Abi, Sam and Rebekkah Hoiland of Fairfield; Jaclyn, Bryan, Elijah, Kody and Brynlee Warden of Great Falls; Tyler Harris of Bozeman; and Will, Rachelle, Marlie and Jack Harris of Great Falls; brother John Donovan of Union, Wash., and son Jeremiah; and brother Chuck Donovan of Livingston; stepchildren and their families Edward, Rhonda, Jessica (Craig Halko) and Justin (Laura) Williamson; Dennis Williamson; Leslie and Fred Moore; and Brenda, Chuck, Lauren and Chance Maes; and lifelong friend Karen Spain.

Phyllis' family will hold a celebration of her life on Friday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. at Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway. Her family invites her friends to wear Phyllis' favorite color, purple, or to wear their own favorite colors. They thank all the caring professionals at Providence St. Patrick Hospital's Montana Cancer Center. In lieu of flowers, they ask that friends contribute in Phyllis' name to Watson Children's Shelter.












Read Phyllis Williamson's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.