January 28, 1938 – December 30, 2019

Phyllis Anne Cassaw Nichols was born January 28, 1938 to Roy D. Cassaw and Irene Thomas in Gouverneur, a small town just south of the Canadian border in upstate New York. Phyllis is predeceased by her husband Ronald Nichols, her brothers Walter and William Cassaw, her sisters Jean Jennings and Judy Cassaw and her grandson Jason Stevens. Phyllis is survived by sister Elaine Matott of Governeur, NY, children, Jerilynn Wheeless (Larry) of Grandy, Russell Miller (Kristy) of King George, Va., Robert Miller (Kimberly) of Keymar, Md. and Faye Stevens of Pulaski, NY, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and family friends.

Phyllis attended and graduated from the Governeur, NY school system. At 18, Phyllis decided to leave her small town surroundings and join the US Air Force. After four years of faithful service, Phyllis left the Air Force honorably. During her military career, she met Russell E. Miller of Aurora, Minn. The couple had four children.

She obtained her LPN certifications and eventually went on to get her Registered Nursing (RN) Degree. Phyllis worked hard during these years to raise four young children, maintain a family life for them, and develop her career.

In the late 1960s, she met and in 1973 married Ronald Edwin Nichols. They remained together until his passing in 2014.

Phyllis left the comforts and security of Gouverneur early in 1978 and moved to Florida where she lived, worked and enjoyed many years of playing golf, fishing and other activities with her husband Ron, brother Bill (William) and his family.

After retirement, Phyllis and Ron relocated to the Outer Banks, eventually settling in Grandy, where she lived with Ron until his passing and her daughter Jeri and her children and grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Currituck Bible Baptist Church in Grandy January 5 at 4 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes are gratefully welcome at her church. Pastor Eric Rainwater will officiate.

Condolences to the family may be expressed via the online register at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc. was entrusted with arrangements.

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