Phyllis O'Daniels

Phyllis Nadine O'Daniels

Phyllis Nadine Sandidge O'Daniels was born in LaGrande. Oregon on June 5, 1943 to Muriel and Joseph Sandidge. Phyllis passed away peacefully at her home on 1 Sep. 2026 at the age of 83. The Sandidge family moved to Independence, MO in the late 1940's and Phyllis attended elementary and secondary school in the Independence, MO school district. After high school graduation Phyllis attended Graceland College (University) and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Education in 1965. After graduation Phyllis taught physical education classed in the Omaha, NE school system for one year. Phyllis then began work on her Masters Degree in Health & Safety Education at Indiana University. She also earned her Doctorate Degree in Health & Safety Education from Indiana University. After completing her graduate program, she taught Health & Safety Education classes at the University of Kentucky for two years. Phyllis was united in marriage to Gary O'Daniels on August 15, 1970 in Independence, Missouri. After marriage they resided in Lexington, Kentucky where Phyllis was still teaching Health & Safety Education classes.

In 1972 Phyllis & Gary moved to Dunlap, Iowa where Gary was the high school counselor and girls basketball coach for Dunlap High School. In 1976 Phyllis & Gary moved to North Bend, NE where Gary was the high school counselor and cross-country coach for the North Bend school district. While in North Bend Phyllis taught classes on a part-time basis for Midland College in Fremont, Nebraska. She also worked as a teachers aide in the North Bend school system.

In 1986 the O'Daniels family moved to Creston, Iowa where Gary was employed as the Special Needs Coordinator for Southwestern Comm. College and Phyllis was employed by Graceland University as the Director of the Education Talent Search program. She held this responsibility for approximately five years before she began teaching Health, Nutrition, Safety classes for Graceland University. In addition to the Health & Safety classes, Phyllis also taught swimming classes, WSI classes & life guarding classes for many of the Graceland University students. Part of her responsibilities included the supervision of student teachers who were majoring in Physical Education & Health Education. One activity that Phyllis really enjoyed was accompanying Graceland University students to Honduras to help build houses as part of Graceland University’s Winter Term projects. Phyllis also served as the Faculty Athletic Representative for Graceland University, dealing with eligibility issues for athletes in Graceland's many athletic programs. For the 2000-2001 academic year, Phyllis was awarded the Charles Morris Award as the Outstanding Athletic Administrator for the National Athletic Intercollegiate Association. Phyllis was inducted into the Graceland University Hall of Fame in 2003. Phyllis concluded her employment with Graceland University in 2024 after supervising Graceland students who were doing their student teaching in Health & Physical Education in area secondary schools. Phyllis was an ordained Elder in the Community of Christ Church, serving as the Pastor for the Creston Congregation for two years and played the piano for many of their local church services.

Phyllis taught swimming and life guarding classes in Lamoni and in Creston. She also was involved with the Creston Friends of the Library group as well as the Fuller Group (formerly known as Habitat for Humanity.) Phyllis was a strong supporter of many environmental issues. She also enjoyed hiking in Colorado and canoeing in the Boundary Waters Area in northern Minnesota.

Phyllis is survived by her husband Gary, in Creston IA, daughter Emily Dawson, husband Harry, Independence, Mo, Sean O’Daniels, wife Andrea, Kyle, TX and brother Rex Sandidge, wife Julie,Coralville, IA. Grandchildren Molly (Mika) Dawson, Allyson Dawson, and Kahlan O'Daniels.