Funeral services for Phyllis Evonne Groene will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Reverends Randy Levings and Leonard Koehn officiating.

Phyllis Evonne Groene was born December 14, 1949 to Vernon and Sophie Nightingale in Fairview and passed away July 18, 2011 at her home.

Phyllis attended school at Progressive, graduating from Fairview. After graduating she attended Nursing School in Woodward graduating in 1973. Phyllis was one of the first EMT's to be employed by the Major County EMS in 1978. She had a love for nursing and was well known for her detail as a scrub nurse. Phyllis worked as an EMT, LPN and Scrub Nurse in Fairview, Okeene and even in Texas. She worked for Dr. Belter and Dr. Harris at the Fairview Hospital. Phyllis worked as a drug and alcohol counselor in Watonga until retiring due to bad health. At the age of eight, Phyllis was diagnosed with diabetes and in 1994 she was then diagnosed with MS. On April 1, 1988 she married Kaleae Ricardo (Ric) Groene in Fairview.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Ric Groene of the home, father, Vernon Nightingale; one brother Delbert and wife Irene Nightingale; four sisters, Arletta Nightingale of Mound Ridge, Kansas, Florine and husband Norman Penner of Wingo, Kentucky, Diana and husband David Schmidt of El Campo, Texas, Twila and husband Lester Penner of St. Anne, Manitoba, Canada along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Sophie Nightingale and one niece, Kristy Schmidt.

Memorials may be made to OMRF Diabetes Division with the Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. acting as custodian.

Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com