FALMOUTH -- Phyllis Mildred Moynihan passed away on Dec. 13, 2010, five days shy of her 96th birthday surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on Dec. 18, 1914, in Boston, Mass., the daughter of Howard L. and Mildred Lawrence Beehler. She grew up in Milford, Mass., and Lancaster, Pa., where she graduated from Steven High School for Girls. She was also a graduate of the Catherine Gibbs School of Business in Boston.
While in her early 20s, her family began to take their summer vacations on Chebeague Island. It is on the island that she met Lewis S. Moynihan whom she wed on Jan. 21, 1943. Phyllis and Lewis started their family while living on the island. Chebeague was a rich source of wonderful memories and friendships that remained strong throughout her life. During WWII, while her husband was serving in the Marine Corps and the Merchant Marines, Phyllis participated as a coastal plane watcher on the island.
Mrs. Moynihan and her husband raised their family of three boys on Chebeague and Cumberland before retiring to Yarmouth. Later, Phyllis moved to Foreside Estates in Falmouth where she continued to make several wonderful friends.
Phyllis was always a working mother holding positions as a secretary at several legal and accounting firms. She was active in the Cumberland Cub Scouts, the Cumberland Garden Club, We Neighbors, the Yarmouth Fortnightly Club and the Merrill Memorial Library. Phyllis loved to read and was a wonderful letter writer keeping in touch with friends and relatives right up to the end of her very active life.
A great source of pride for Phyllis was the accomplishments of her three sons and their families all whom remained very close and visited her on a daily basis. Phyllis' home was a common gathering spot for holidays, lively political discussions and sporting events especially the Kentucky Derby, where great food, camaraderie and the occasional beverage was always on hand.
Phyllis and her family were great fans of Maine harness horse racing. Scarborough, Lewiston, Cumberland and Gorham race tracks and all of the fairs were regular destinations for meeting friends and entertainment. At one point in the 60s, they owned a pacer named Belle Spencer.
Phyllis Moynihan, like her mother, was a wonderful cook, always having a great meal on the table often after a full day's work.
She was a very popular and well known lady with a multitude of good friends. Her eternal optimism and engaging personality was contagious and she was a joy to be around. And while she lived a long, healthy and vibrant life with her strong wit to the very end she will be sadly missed.
Her husband, Lewis S. Moynihan Sr.; and her youngest sister, Ruth Beehler Dyer, predeceased Phyllis. She is survived by her three sons, Lewis S. Jr. and his partner Jackie Casey of Yarmouth, Howard and his wife Sherri of Gray, Eric and his wife Deborah of Yarmouth; her sister, Elizabeth Collins of Florida; her grandchildren, Lewis S. Moynihan III and his wife Rebecca of Scarborough, Brian E. Moynihan and his wife Michelle of Elliot, Scott Moynihan and his wife Kim of North Yarmouth, Casey, Kevin and Kelly Moynihan all of Portland; and great-grandchildren, Ethan Moynihan, Erin Moynihan, Devon Moynihan, Lewis S. Moynihan IV and Natalie Moynihan.
The entire Moynihan family would like to extend their profound gratitude to all of the wonderful caretakers at The Casco Inn. Their compassionate and tender loving care of our beloved Phyllis during her final weeks was nothing short of phenomenal and we thank each and every one of them for their wonderful efforts.
A casual gathering will be held for family and friends at Toddy Brook Golf Course in North Yarmouth from 2 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2010.