Phyllis McKay Cook
November 4, 1953 ~ June 20, 2025
Phyllis Ann McKay Cook, of Callaway, MD, formerly of Tucson, AZ, passed away on June 20, 2025, at Hospice House, Callaway, MD, surrounded by her loving family. Born on November 4, 1953, she was the daughter of the late Joseph C. McKay, Sr. and Selma D. McKay. Phyllis was the loving wife of the late King Leon Cook, whom she married on August 1, 1974, and who preceded her in death in May 2011. Phyllis is survived by her siblings, Joseph C. McKay, Jr. (Janice), George E. McKay, Sr. (Nancy), Gail Underwood (Galin), and Margaret Brown (Andrew). She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, John W. Carter III (Tammy), Cindy Riti (Tim), Christine McKay, George McKay, Jr. (Penny), and Stephanie McKay. She was preceded in death by her sister, Nancy McKay, and her nephew, Joseph Underwood.
Phyllis graduated from Great Mills High School in 1971/ She went to work for the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. and met Leon. She and Leon moved to Marion, IN, where they lived for several years before moving to Tucson, AZ. While in Tucson, Phyllis and Leon moved to a retirement community where Phyllis made friendships with several older ladies living in the community whom she helped throughout the years with doctor appointments, grocery shipping, hair appointments, and just being there for them.
Phyllis retired in 2009 from Davi-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ.
The family will receive friends on Monday, June 30, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Holy Face Catholic Church, Great Mills, MD, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, with Father Scott Holmer officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be John W. Carter III, George McKay, Jr., Ian Krusinski, Wayne Miedzinski, David McKay, and Jimmy McKay. Honorary pallbearer will be Tommy McKay.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or Holy Face Catholic Church, 20408 Point Lookout Road, Great Mills, MD 20634.
The family would like to thank the staff at Hospice House for the loving care they provided Phyllis, as well as the support given to the family during this difficult time.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.
Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
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My condolences to the family. I loved Phyllis very much and I will miss her always. Phyllis and I have been friends for many, many years in Tucson, Arizona. She helped me with a difficult payroll issue many years ago when I moved from Yokota AB, Japan to Davis-Monthan AFB. We have been close ever since. Phyllis has always gone out of her way to help people, and she will be greatly missed.