Phyllis Jean Cook Smith

May 4, 1947 - April 21, 2024

Phyllis Jean Cook Smith, Findlay, OH, died April 21, 2024. She was born in 1938, the eldest child of Nelson and Olive Cook, Bourbon, IN. She graduated as salutatorian from Bourbon High School and later received a BS degree with distinction in Home Economics from Purdue University. The best memories of her time at Purdue centered on the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and she thought of herself as a "Zeta Sister" the rest of her life. Later she returned to Purdue and received a master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences.

In 1960, she married Richard Tombaugh with whom she had two children, Brian and Brad. Following a divorce, she took on the responsibility of raising her sons by herself. In 1973, she married Richard Smith.

After moving to Findlay in 1979, she taught school for 22 years, first at the Millstream Career Center as a job-training teacher and later at Findlay High School where she worked with pregnant and parenting teens to instill good parenting skills and help them graduate. After retirement, she enjoyed family visits, photography, book club, lunches and sewing projects with her church's Caring Hands group and traveling with her husband.

Phyllis was a loving spouse, a caring and proud mother of two responsible and successful sons, and someone who thought the world of her two grandchildren and precious great-granddaughter. She is survived by her husband Rich, sons Brian and Brad, grandchildren Eric and Melissa, great-granddaughter Ariya, and many cousins.

Online condolences may be shared with Phyllis' family at coldrencrates.com