Phyllis Alexander Suter

Phyllis Alexander Suter, 92, of Runaway Bay, Texas, passed away September 8, 2025 at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. Phyllis, the eldest of four children born to Mabel Louise (Weaver) Alexander and Elmer R. Alexander, was born July 22, 1933 in Peoria, Illinois. A 1951 graduate of Monmouth High School, she played piano, saxophone and served on the yearbook staff. She kept up with classmates via email through her 80s.

Phyllis continued her education through Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and Methodist Hospital to become a Registered Nurse in 1954 where she made lifelong friends. Her plans to begin adult life in San Francisco were interrupted when her cousin Al Weaver introduced her to R. Jay Suter whose immediate plans included purchasing a Corvette. They chose each other instead, married August 30, 1958 and settled into life in Chicago.

Phyllis continued her nursing career via hospital work in Chicago until her second daughter was born and then multiple moves through Illinois, Kansas and Georgia related to Jay’s career growth saw her suspend her nursing career to devote her time to her four children. She encouraged them to pursue their individual dreams and goals and promoted self-sufficiency. She expressed pride in the accomplishments of each one. Through the years and while raising their family, Phyllis enjoyed the many opportunities to travel with Jay to various professional events and conventions, eager to see the sites of each city and show off their dancing skills. She renewed her nursing license once her children moved into high school and resumed work first with a private company in Kansas City and then as nurse and office manager in Overland Park, Kansas for Martin Buckman, M.D. and Thomas Barnett, M.D. until her retirement.

A lifelong sports fan, especially basketball, which both of her brothers played, and football, she added golf once the family moved to Georgia. It was there that Phyllis took up golf, got the ‘bug’ and began playing regularly achieving several holes in one! She and Jay enjoyed playing golf with friends and travelled throughout the US and Western Europe finding their favorite courses. Upon retirement they relocated to Horseshoe Bay, Texas with good friends where they spent many happy years on the courses of that resort community. Phyllis, with the help of a designer who brought her vision to life, oversaw the construction of a custom home in Horseshoe Bay which in her 80s she modified and built again when she and Jay relocated to the north Texas City of Runaway Bay which had the small town environment they each enjoyed as children.

Following Jay’s death in 2021, Phyllis remained in Texas enjoying visits from relatives and friends. As the years passed and people moved or passed including, most poignantly, her daughter Mara in 2023, Phyllis contemplated her last move and decided to return to Kansas City to be nearer her children. While progressing in her recovery from surgery with an eagerness to get out of the hospital bed, into therapy and back on her feet, she quietly passed during the early morning of September 8, 2025.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 63 years, Raymond Jay Suter, her daughter Mara Suter of Northport, Alabama and nephew Craig A. Alexander of Seoul, Korea, along with her many beloved dogs. She is survived by her sister Judith Shipman (David) of Boise, Idaho, brothers D. Dean Alexander (Mary Ann) of Bozeman, Montana and Craig Allen Alexander; children Michelle Suter of Overland Park, Kansas, Michael Suter of Lenexa, Kansas, Mary Beth Romolo (Christopher) of Northlake, Texas, grandchildren Hunter Wills, Zachary Wills, Emily Romolo, C. Ryan Romolo, her beloved nieces and nephews, their spouses and children along with their, dogs, cats and birds.

The family plans a private celebration of life for Phyllis.