Phyllis Ellen Bovee

Phyllis Ellen Bovee, age 92 of Cozad, Nebraska, passed away Friday, February 5, 2021, at Meadowlark Pointe Assisted Living.  Phyllis, daughter of Mac and Blandena (Johnson) Bovee, was born at Cozad, NE, February 21, 1928.  She attended Cozad City Schools graduating in 1945.  Phyllis graduated from Frances Shimer Jr. College in Mt. Carroll, IL in 1947 and Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Lincoln, NE in 1950.  She began her nursing career at Bryan Hospital and Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha.  After two years as a staff nurse, Phyllis found her passion of teaching the next generation of nurses as an instructor for ten years at Bryan. During her time as an instructor, she also furthered her own education by receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln. In 1962, she began her decorated career in administration at Bryan Memorial as Associate Director of the School of Nursing before being promoted to the Director of the School of Nursing in 1971. During her time as Director, she earned her Master’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha and spent the final eight years of her storied career as Vice President of Nursing Services, School of Nursing, Operating Rooms and Emergency Rooms upon her retirement in 1990. Throughout her career, Phyllis served on and held offices on numerous nursing boards and organizations including the ANA, NLN and the Nebraska Nurses Association. She received many awards including Admiral in the Nebraska Navy, Who’s Who in the Midwest and Who’s Who in Nursing.  After retirement, she served on the Nebraska and National AARP Leadership Boards. Phyllis was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and DAR. Her career path and accomplishments speak for themselves but Phyllis was most proud of her reputation for being a mentor and an advocate for her students and making an impact on the daily lives of each and every one, especially those who needed someone in their corner. Her legacy at Bryan lives on through the Phyllis Bovee Scholarship at Bryan School of Nursing. The love and compassion she showed her students and colleagues at Bryan was only outshined by her love of being an aunt and great-aunt. The word aunt is not an adequate enough term for what Phyllis truly was to her nieces and nephews. She was a mother and grandmother figure, a loyal friend and the loudest cheerleader in every way. She loved, spoiled and spent valued time with each and every one of them. After being a resident of Lincoln for nearly 60 years, Phyllis returned to her hometown of Cozad to be closer to family and old friends while making a whole new set of friends and family at Meadowlark and through a book club she was a founding member of. Phyllis’ interests included traveling, reading, games of all kinds, music and shopping (especially in catalogs). Her generosity and kindness was unmatched and she was always willing to lend a helping hand or ear to anyone in need. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Mary Jane Vasey, brother-in-law William Vasey, and niece Susan (Vasey) Moore. Survivors include her niece Nancy (Chris) Henry of Lincoln, NE; nephew Doug (Sherry) Vasey of Nashville, TN; and great nieces and nephews Matthew Henry of Austin, TX; Carly Henry of Lincoln, NE; Brett Vasey of Nashville, TN; Amanda Moore of Boise, ID; and Taylor Vasey of Boise, ID. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her memory to continue the Phyllis Bovee Scholarship Fund at Bryan School of Nursing for many years to come. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Funeral services will be Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel with Doug Vasey officiating. Burial will be in the Cozad Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.