Phyllis Lockwood Olsen

Phyllis Lockwood Olsen, age 84, of 13729 Puerto Dr., Ocean Springs, MS died January 13, 2005 at Ocean Springs Hospital. She was born June 2, 1920 in Cove, Oregon. She lived most of her childhood years in La Grande, Oregon and her later teen-age years in Durkee, Oregon. She graduated from Baker, Oregon High School in 1938 and attended Baker's Business College for 2 years. Prior to her marriage to Joseph K. Olsen on August 16, 1942, she worked for the Sumpter Valley Railway Co. in Baker as an accountant and payroll clerk. After her marriage, she worked for the local radio station in Corvallis, OR; later while her husband attended Princeton University in Princeton, NJ under the ASTP she worked for the George Gallup Opinion Poll Group. When her husband was overseas in Europe during World War II, Mrs. Olsen worked for the Pondosa Lumber Co. in Pondosa, OR. After Mr. Olsen's discharge from the Army in December 1945, she became a full-time Home-maker, Mother and Chief Household Executive. Because of her husband's work with Chevron Corp., Mrs. Olsen lived and travelled in many areas of our Country and Overseas. Their 12 1/2 year sojourn in Iran over a 19 year period gave Mrs. Olsen an opportunity to travel extensively and to visit many foreign countries in Europe, Southeast & Southwest Asia, Egypt, South Pacific and the Far East. She came to Ocean Springs in 1962 when her husband was transferred here from El Paso, TX for the initial staffing of Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery. Mrs. Olsen was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs, the Daughters of the King, Past Matron of Adah Chapter #49 OES, Past Queen of Japhia Temple #146 Daughters of the Nile, Past Mother Advisor of Ocean Springs' Rainbow Assembly and a member of the Grand Cross of Colors. She was also very active in the Ocean Springs Hospital Auxiliary, the Gulf Hills Garden Club and PEO Chapter A in Ocean Springs. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip L. Lockwood and Ada Greer Lockwood; and a brother, Keith Lockwood. She is survived by her Beloved Husband of 62 years, Joseph Kent Olsen; a son, William Kent Olsen of Ocean Springs; a daughter, Cheryl Ann Olsen of Biloxi; a brother, Harry K. Lockwood of Otis, OR; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. One of her Grandchildren is Laura Elizabeth Olsen Albritton of Gulfport who was loved as a second daughter since the Olsens were privileged to have Laura in their home for 5 years during her high school years. Her wake will be at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Thursday, January 20, 2005 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., where an Eastern Star Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Her funeral will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 21, 2005 at St. John's Episcopal Church, Ocean Springs, preceded with a reception in the Church Hall beginning at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested for Adah Chapter #49 OES Memorial Fund, Japhia Temple #146 Daughters of the Nile Convalescent Relief Fund or St. John's Chapter Daughters of the King.