Phyllis Poe Kinney

The remarkable Phyllis Poe Kinney, also known as Mimi, left her physical body, Friday, June 24th, passing comfortably at home. Having been born in the first quarter of the last century and living a long and fulfilling life, she has left a powerful and enduring impression on us all. Her essential spirit—strong, proud, hard-working, unimpressed with conventional marks of status and full of common sense and good humor—never changed.

She was born in Shelby Michigan to pianist Ruth Elizabeth Poe and violinist/entertainer Carmine Barrille.

She married Irvin Wayne Kinney, and soon after moved to Laramie Wyoming. where she spent most of her adult life. She was a mother to seven children in eleven years. She taught Spanish in the Junior High School in Laramie before she earned a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Wyoming when her children were aged from 9 - 21 years old. For years she served her community and its families as an author, mental health counselor, and loving friend.

She was full of humor and wit, engaging in deep conversations about anything at all, counseling, listening and truly understanding and consoling the human spirit.

She inherited an ear for music, enjoyed playing chess and card games, and blazed through crossword puzzles and word games. Those who were fortunate enough to meet her always felt important and loved. She really "mothered" everyone she met. She always supported and protected the "underdog", genuinely, and sincerely. She was a firm believer in human rights, women's rights, and nothing surprised or offended her.

She will be remembered forever by her seven children, nineteen grandchildren, five Fitzgerald step-grandchildren and an ever growing number of great-grandchildren. Dr. Kinney was preceded in passing from this life by her two children, Wayne Kinney, III, and Eloise Kinney. She is survived by children, Majel Gardzelewski (Allen,) Lisa Kinney (Rod Lang,) Bob Kinney, Todd Kinney (Cindy,) Laramie Kinney (AKA Little Flippy.) (Mathew Harmon) Claudia Huber, Jennifer Marvin. Brother, Reverend Carl Poe and his wife, Pat, two nieces and their families and their friends.

Thank you, God, for gifting her to us. She was a jewel, a treasure and a true saint. Granddaughter's thoughts below; "Rest in peace my favorite little lady, lover of all food, best humor around, curiosity that was never ending, an incredible witty and open mind, and the most inquisitive and giving heart, mind and soul."

"A memorial service will be held at 1847 Michael Lane, Fort Collins, at 11:00 on Thursday, July 28. RSVP please: to majelgard@yahoo.com "