Phyllis Ann Koonz, 86, of Nampa, passed away on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at a Nampa care facility of natural causes.  Phyllis was born on May 18, 1931 in Columbus, Ohio to Henry B. and Gertrude A. Ghent, of Kentucky and Ohio, respectively.  She spent her early years in Columbus, Ohio where she attended West High School and in her senior year of high school relocated to Southern California where she graduated from Redondo Union High School.  She was married in 1953 to Wilmer Griffin, and later divorced.  She was remarried to Joseph Koonz, Jr, of Albany New York in 1962 and widowed in 1991.  She was employed as a secretary for various organizations, and retired in 1999 from an oil, chemical and atomic workers union after 20 years.  She became involved selling Avon in her retirement and was able to become more active in her church and was part of a group named “Praise Singers”, where she played the piano at convalescent homes on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Gertrude Ghent, and siblings, Gladys Capretta, Robert M. Ghent, and Norma J. Allen.  She is survived by her children and their spouses:  Betty Diaz, Michael S. Griffin, Bradley W. Griffin and daughter-in-law, Dawn; Teri Combine and son-in-law Bradley; and Alfred J. Koonz and daughter-in-law, Joo Yeon.    She is also survived by ten grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., at Alsip and Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Avenue South, Nampa, Idaho.  Interment in Kohlerlawn Cemetery.