Phyllis Eileen Glick DeGasperi Cheek, 86, of Port Charlotte, FL, passed away on November 19th, 2024, after a long illness. Phyllis was born on August 5, 1938, to John and Lola (Lance) Glick in Pittsburg Kansas. She attended what was Kansas State Teachers College (now known as Pittsburg State University PSU) in Pittsburg, KS, until she married Raymond DeGasperi in 1958. He preceded her in death in 1972. In December 1975 she married Dr. Davis W (D. W.) Cheek, who passed in 1994.
Phyllis spent several years moving with Raymond, from Kansas City, Charleston, WV, Pittsburgh, PA, Denver, CO, and Joplin, MO. Once Raymond had passed (1972) she moved back to Pittsburg, KS. She went back to college at PSU obtaining an Elementary Education degree in 1975. She became a fourth-grade teacher in Arma, KS. While teaching there she took classes for re-certification and received a Master’s in Special Education at PSU in 1982, expanding the groups of children she could help. She met and married Dr. D. W. Cheek in 1975. One of their favorite things to do was to travel, favorites being international travel, visiting Mexico many times and visiting China. They also traveled across the country in an RV, ending up last in Florida. Once D. W. passed, she became a permanent resident in Bradenton, FL, where she resided until moving in 2021 to Port Charlotte, FL. While in Florida, she worked part-time for the Manatee County school system as an ABD/GED instructor, which she found very rewarding, helping these adults complete their high school education.
Phyllis is survived by her two children, Curtis (Sara Waterman) DeGasperi of Seattle, WA, and Michelle (Tom) Kreiser of Port Charlotte, FL. And four grandchildren, Kelsey Kreiser of Tampa, FL, Christopher Kreiser of Lenexa, KS, Maya DeGasperi of Washington, DC, and Naomi DeGasperi of Seattle, WA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the Special Education Department in Memory of Phyllis Cheek at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. Gifts can be mailed to the PSU Foundation, Inc., PO Box 4005, Pittsburg, KS 66762 or can be given online at pittstate.edu/givenow.
Plans for a celebration of her life will be determined at a later time.
Baldwin Brothers of Port Charlotte FL is honored to serve the family.
