Phyllis L. Gilmore

Phyllis Lee Gilmore was born to her earthly home on February 4, 1945, in St. Louis MO, and passed to her eternal home on January 24, 2021 in Olathe, KS. At age 7 months she contracted the polio virus, causing her to spend the first 3 to 5 years in Shriner's Hospital, receiving life and mobility saving surgeries. These events most certainly affected her the rest of her life, but she never let them define her.

Her love of politics first began by running for high school Treasurer on the "Fill the Bill with Phyll" slogan. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Education from Peabody/Vanderbuilt. Enjoying her independence in college so much Phyllis and a friend started out one summer backpacking/hitchhiking throughout Europe ultimately deciding to stay abroad and go to school for a semester in Copenhagen, Denmark. She finished her excursion the next summer in England, staying in a little apartment above a tea house; paying her way as a tea table waitress. Later in college, she served as a summer missionary in Hawaii with the Southern Baptist Convention.

In 1970, she married Kenneth Gilmore. Kenneth finished his engineering degree in Rolla, MO, while Phyllis taught junior high science for a year. After deciding that dissecting frogs was not for her, she continued substitute teaching while completing her Master's Degree in Social Work from Washington University. The Lord then moved her into a position working for Boys Town of Missouri, and that's when she realized her passion for helping people.

Ken and Phyllis moved to Johnson County, Kansas in 1972 and soon became lifelong members (49 years) of Legacy Christian Church. Phyllis served in so many capacities over the years: Wee Worship, Sunday school, VBS, Sweetheart Banquet, Youth 6th-12th, Elder's wife, Bible Study … just to name a few. At this time, she also taught as a substitute teacher in secondary schools, around Kansas City. Their two children Kenneth Andrew and Rebecca Lee were born soon after they began living in Johnson County Kansas.

Through the 1980s and early 1990s she worked as the Medical Social Worker/Interim Director of Hospice at Olathe Medical Center. To stay home with her children, she became self-employed, conducting home studies for adopting parents and working with the KCYFC Light House and Crisis Pregnancy Centers in Kansas City.

In 1994, she won the race for Kansas State Representative of the 27th District; the largest representative district in the State at that time. While in office she impressively redefined adoption laws and newborn hearing tests for the State of Kansas. After serving six years, she became the Executive Director of the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. In 2012, she accepted Governor Brownback's appointment as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Children and Families, stepping down only when the Governor was himself appointed as the United States Ambassador for Religious Freedom.

The last two years she focused time and energy on her friends, family and grandchildren; supporting their many endeavors. Specifically, Phyllis fostered a special relationship with Danielle Glassel and her family. She took pleasure in seeing God work miracles in Danielle's life over five years and was especially excited to see her obedience to God's calling to a career in counseling. Phyllis was also very exuberant over her latest work, which was counseling women at Gateway of Hope.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Alta Hansard of St. Louis, her sister Twyla Loseman, of St. Louis and her husband Ken Gilmore. She is survived by her brother Dr. Donald Hansard in Tallahassee, FL, her children: Andy and Tereasa Gilmore of Mission, KS, and Cory and Becky Gilmore Davis of Olathe, KS., four grandchildren: Abigail and Caleb Gilmore, and Mikayla and Emery Davis, as well as many Hansard and Gilmore "brothers and sisters," and numerous nieces and nephews.

Possessing a unique ability to understand the heart of a person and their needs, Phyllis Lee Hansard Gilmore will be remembered by friends and family as an unstoppable force put here on earth as an example of God's unwavering goodness and love for "even the least of these."

Plants and flowers are appreciated or donations can be made to GateWay of Hope

For more information on her life, read the article at Best Times



There are three ways you can join us to celebrate Phyllis Gilmore's life. Please know that current COVID distancing protocols will be observed at these events.

1) Come to the visitation from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Friday, January 29th or
2) Come to the funeral service on Saturday, January 30th at 10:00am or
3) Watch the funeral service online at Service Online

The visitation and the funeral will be at Legacy Christian Church's Overland Park Campus at 10150 Antioch, Overland Park, KS 66212. The Friday visitation will have an open format allowing for ample distancing. The Saturday service will have limited seating for which we will be utilizing an online RSVP Click Here






To leave a message of condolence for Phyllis' family or to share a special memory of Phyllis, please visit the guestbook below.