Phyllis J. Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Phyllis J. Of Kalamazoo Went to be with her Lord Sunday evening October 23, 2011. Phyllis was born on December 13, 1921, the daughter of the late John and Helen De Vries Ver West and had been a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo. She earned a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University and her master's degree from the University of Michigan. Phyllis taught in the Kalamazoo Public Schools for 20 years, Kalamazoo Christian High School for 2 years, and served as the Kalamazoo Township Supervisor for ten years, retiring in 1996. She was a longtime member of the First Reformed Church of Kalamazoo and later Second Reformed Church. Phyllis enjoyed playing golf, reading, and following the Detroit Tigers particularly through the voice of the legendary late Ernie Harwell, but especially enjoyed her time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On August 11, 1950 she was united in marriage to her loving husband, Maynard W. Cleveland, who preceded her in death on April 6, 2003. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Donald Ver West. She is survived by her son David Carol Cleveland; grandchildren Amy Ryan Daggett and Mark Jamie Hoekstra; great-grandchildren Riley and Kenadie Daggett and Grace and Landon Hoekstra, and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 11:00 o'clock Thursday at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street with Rev. Mark Walvoord officiating. Friends may meet the family one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Private interment will be in Grand Prairie Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Kalamazoo Christian School Association or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Please visit www.langelands.com to sign the online guestbook.