Phyllis Bea Davis left this world on June 24, 2026, in Madison, Wisc., at age 77, due to complications of cancer.

Phyllis was born April 28, 1949, in Payne, Ohio, a small farming community in northwestern Ohio, the fourth and youngest child of Leo and Caroline Davis. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Payne, part of a large extended family that included more than 30 first cousins.

After graduating from Payne High School in 1967, Phyllis earned a bachelor of science in education at The Ohio State University in 1971 and a master’s degree in library science from Kent State University in 1980. She enjoyed her library career and felt privileged to have had a hand in the creation of LINKcat, the library automation and resource sharing system; the South Central Library System Foundation; and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium. She retired as director of Wisconsin’s South Central Library System in 2010.

Phyllis had many longtime friends, including her chosen family (“the gang”) in Madison, her Columbus “gal pals,” “The Librarians,” her book club, the Ladies’ Breakfast crowd, and her dream group. For more than 30 years, Phyllis also shared her life with the man she loved. All of their children were fuzzy and had four feet.

Phyllis positively adored dogs and she shared that passion with many friends. She loved gardening (and was a Master Gardener), cooking, walking, kayaking, reading (literature and progressive publications), collecting refrigerator magnets, watching movies, and hanging out with friends and family. She enjoyed singing, and sang for years with Womonsong, Madison’s feminist chorus, with the Madison College Community Choir and, briefly, the Sun Prairie Community Chorus. She was a volunteer at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. She also volunteered for many years - and served on the board of - the Atwood (now Goodman) Community Center.

She relished traveling with others and visited many countries - and all but three states-and she had plans for more. She walked on the great wall in China, climbed Mayan ruins in Mexico, swam in the Blue Lagoon and saw the Northern Lights in Iceland. She felt blessed to have been able to see so much of the world.

Phyllis had a quick and irreverent sense of humor and strong opinions about politics and women’s rights, among other things. She was a generous contributor to many causes - agricultural, environmental, political, and beyond. Indeed, Phyllis had one of the biggest hearts on the planet. She was genuine, forgiving, and kind to all. Her greeting cards were famously quirky and proof of the close attention she paid to her loved ones’ interests and activities.

Phyllis was intelligent, even-tempered and tough, and she took things as they came. She appreciated a good discussion. She laughed often and teared up easily. She loved life and lived hers with grace and much gratitude. She faced death on her own terms, and without fear. “We’re all just walking each other home” was one of her frequent one-liners.

Phyllis cherished her family and talked about them all the time. She is survived by brothers, James aka Butch (Kathy) Davis and Roger (Patty) Davis; nieces and nephews, Christine (Steve) Neisslie, Ralph (Carol) French, Brian (Jen) Davis, Mara (Duane) Barker, Jason (Tracie ) Davis; and great-nieces and nephews, Ryan Neisslie, Jeff (Sara) Neisslie, Madison (Victoria) French-Falcon, Pierce and Mila Davis, Clay Davis and Emily (Jack) Cofer; and great-great-niece and nephew, Gwen and Nolan Neisslie. She was also survived by her beloved and rambunctious dog, Belle. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Barbara Davis French; brother-in-law, Frank French, and niece, Lydia Davis. Phyllis’s previous fur babies were Brumus, Annie, Buddy, and Buck- all good doggies.

Phyllis will be buried at the Natural Path Sanctuary near Verona, Wisconsin. A memorial will be held in the coming months. She asked that anyone moved to make a memorial gift to please consider the South Central Library System Foundation, Groundswell Conservancy, REAP Food Group or a charity of their choice.