Phyllis Bartlett

MIDDLETON-Our beloved mother, Phyllis Ruth Belgrave Bartlett of Middleton, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2018, ten days after her 90th birthday “Pink Princess” party, at Attic Angel Place. Phyllis was born on May 20, 1928, in Muskegon, Michigan, on Lake Michigan, to Ruth Sofia Nelson Belgrave and James Basil Sylvester Belgrave. She had an older brother, James.   Phyllis was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She attended Moon Elementary School, where she excelled at tap dancing, piano, poetry, and art; Hackley High School, where she attained an A- average and was voted “Most Beautiful” by the senior class; and Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo, where she was crowned “Intercollegiate Queen” her freshman year. A stunning photo of Phyllis in a striped bathing suit on Lake Michigan kept several Muskegon boys alive in the trenches of World War II. That and other photos of Phyllis caught the attention of the Miss America Pageant officials in Michigan, who knocked on her door in Muskegon to beg her to enter the pageant. Phyllis paused for a moment, thought about it, and then laughed them off the porch with her unmistakable, captivating, affectionate laugh. She was flattered, yes, but that is not the kind of life she wanted.  After being wooed by dozens of eligible suitors, her hand was won by a handsome prince, William “Bill” Herbert Bartlett, also of Muskegon, a Big Ten Wolverine football player and medical student at University of Michigan. They were married on June 16, 1951, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Muskegon. Phyllis worked as a nursery school teacher to support Bill in completing his medical degree.  Phyllis and Bill moved to Denver in 1953 where Bill completed his pediatric residency at Denver's Children's Hospital and Phyllis gave birth to their beloved first and second children, Michael James and Mary Lisbeth. The growing Bartlett family moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1957, where Bill joined the fledgling Dean Clinic’s new pediatric practice and Phyllis gave birth to their precious third child, Peter Belgrave. Phyllis was a devout member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for over half a century, where she served on Altar Guild. She and her husband Bill donated the ornate gold cross that graces the church's sanctuary.   Phyllis adored the color pink. She had a dynamic personality and was a spectacular dresser, decorator and cook. She loved throwing elegant gatherings, especially for her potluck group and book club. She loved flowers, particularly daisies and stargazer lilies. Phyllis was always the best dancer on the dance floor and could demonstrate an unusually impressive arabesque. She relished fashion and shopping, particularly buying things on sale, purchases which she and her family deemed “Bartlett Bargains.” Phyllis and Bill and their extended family spent their summers in Door County at their beloved “Bartlett Pair” cottage in Jacksonport, on Lake Michigan; Phyllis and Bill put an offer on the property the moment they saw it in 1973. She was tremendously proud of her husband's award-winning pediatric career. She adored being a mother and grandmother and relished supporting her kids and grandkids in pursuing their academic, artistic, and athletic passions.   Phyllis suffered more than her share of both life threatening and chronic illnesses during her life with remarkable courage and spirit; and to her last breath, despite being confined to a wheelchair, hard of hearing, physically fragile, racked with pain, and dependent on 24/7 nursing care, she remained ferociously committed to life. She will be remembered always as feisty, feminine, funny, fastidious, festive and fashionable; she was the undisputed style queen of Attic Angel Place. Phyllis was cared for in her final years by her devoted son, Michael, and the wonderful staff and volunteers at AAP Health Center.    Phyllis is survived by her three children: Michael James of Middleton; Mary Lisbeth of Philadelphia (Roy Backes) and Peter Belgrave of Dallas (Monica); three grandchildren: Oliver Bartlett Backes of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Ashley Nicole Bartlett and Blake Belgrave Bartlett, of Dallas; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her many aunts and uncles; her brother, James Basil Sylvester Belgrave, Jr.; her husband, Bill, AKA “Doc B;” and her son-in-law, Dewayne Eric Bass.   A Memorial Service will be held at ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1833 Regent St., Madison at 2 PM on Saturday, June 30, 2018, with Father Andy Jones presiding. There will be a reception in the parish hall following the service. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 30 from 1pm at St. Andrew's until the time of the service. Burial will take place at a later date at Lakeview Cemetery in Jacksonport, Door County, overlooking Phyllis’ and Bill's beloved Lake Michigan shoreline.   The Bartlett family extends their heartfelt thanks to the remarkable and loving staff and volunteers of Attic Angel Place and Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care; Dr. Connie and Phyllis Andringa; Pat Bernhardt; Nancy Fox; Lucy Hall; Father Andy Jones; Lois Kammer; Carolyn and Phil Klemett; Vicki Gilbert Tomaszewski; Marion Tomlinson; Gloria Turgeson; Bess and Tibor Zana; and countless other friends and family, for their invaluable support during Phyllis’ final illness.  In lieu of flowers (pink preferred of course), donations may be made to: Attic Angel Place 8301 Old Sauk Road, Middleton, WI 53562 and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1833 Regent Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53726. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.