Born in Waldoboro, ME, Phyllis was raised in Sanford, where she lived with her mother Marion, brother Russell and her uncle Arthur. After high school, at age 19, Phyllis enrolled in secretarial school and began working for the government in Washington, D.C. This was just the beginning of a shining career dotted with over 30 recognition awards.
In 1955, she married Robert Leavitt (best known as Bob the Barber). The couple became lifelong Brunswick residents and in 1960, she gave birth to their daughter Tobi.
Phyllis will probably be best remembered by both friends and family, as a devoted civil service employee, whose career spanned 57 years. Since 1955 she served as secretary for every Commanding Officer and Executive Officer at Brunswick Naval Air Station until her retirement. In 2002, her coworkers surprised her with a party to commemorate her 50 years of civil service. This was a celebratory event for Phyllis which included numerous surprise visits from many of her retired bosses, most of whom made a special trip to BNAS for the occasion.
Always the professional, Phyllis had outstanding work ethics and was dedicated to her job. She was a storehouse of essential knowledge, making her an invaluable member of BNAS.
In 2009, Phyllis retired from the job she adored, where she received a rarely bestowed Superior Service Medal. She was one of the longest serving Department of Defense employees on record.
She is predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Robert Leavitt of Brunswick, Maine and her brother Russell Leavitt of Sanford.
Survivors include her daughter, Tobi and husband William Nichols, of Brunswick; two grandsons — Alexander Nichols, who attends Middlebury College in VT and Sam Nichols who is a junior at Brunswick High School.
Per her request, there will be no funeral. Memorial donations may be made to the Coastal Humane Society, 30 Range Road, Brunswick, ME 04011.
A special thank you to the caring nurses and staff at Freeport Place (Cumberland Unit) who helped care for Phyllis since March 2013. Also thanks to Beacon Hospice for helping both Phyllis (and daughter Tobi) during this transition.
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