Obituary of Phyrne Reba Cousins O'Day

PHYRNE REBA COUSINS O’DAY, 95, was called to be home with her Lord and Savior in the early hours of morning January 4, 2025, at Houston Methodist Hospital. Her beloved family and cherished friends visited in her last days to prepare her for her final homecoming. She departed this life holding the hand of her daughter, granddaughter, and caregiver.

Phyrne was born on September 7, 1929, in Columbus, Texas to George L. Bowers and Nola Reba Walker Cousins. She had wonderful memories of her childhood and youth in the Texas hill country, which she enjoyed sharing with her family.

Phyrne graduated from LaGrange High School and went on to attend Sam Houston State Teachers College earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She began her teaching career at Manvel High School, and then taught at Gregg Elementary in Houston before she moved to Pearland to teach with her college friend Carroll Harris, who was the principal at C.J. Harris Elementary.

Phyrne met the love of her life Orlen “Pat” O’Day in 1956 after they were introduced by friends Wayne and Jean Miller, who were her landlords at the time. After a brief courtship they married on March 9, 1957. She continued teaching in Pearland while Pat was establishing his water well drilling company. They spent the next 46 years in Pearland, Texas building a beautiful life and family.

Phyrne was a lifelong Methodist who was a member of First United Methodist in Pearland for almost seventy years. She loved her church and the beautiful friendships she found there. She had a favorite pew on Sunday mornings and loved her Searchlight Sunday school class.

Pat and Phyrne loved to take road trips with their dear friends. The destination wasn’t as important as the time they spent with friends, but some of their favorite destinations over the years were Branson, Las Vegas, Orlando and Gunnison.

Pat and Phyrne were charter members of the Pearland Historical Society and enjoyed meeting with the group to reminisce about the early days of Pearland’s history.

Phyrne was an avid bridge player with the Brookside Bridge Club, and later with the Pearland Marathon Bridge Group. She played with her dear friend and longtime bridge partner Nancy Reiser until the last months of her life.
Nothing mattered more than spending time at home with the ones she loved the most. She took an active role in her children and grandchildren’s lives supporting their hobbies and passions. Whether it was at sports games, gymnastic meets, county fairs, dance lessons, church plays, or music recitals, she was always there to cheer her family on. Holiday gatherings – including Christmas singalongs and Easter egg hunts- birthday celebrations, and BBQ cookouts were always made special in the O’Day household.

She was preceded in death by parents George and Nola Cousins, husband Pat, sister Shirley Ann Cousins, and sister-in-law Blanche O’Day Massey. She is survived by daughter Sandra Albers and husband Bob, son Michael O’Day and wife Connie, daughter Suzanne Elliott and husband Lonnie, grandchildren Laurie Hunt and husband Kyle, Amy Matejek and husband John, Patrick O’Day and wife Katie, Jeff Elliott, and Lendsey Dumas and husband Chase, and great-grandchildren Emma Hunt, Becca Matejek, Sophie Hunt, Jenna Hunt, Ryan Matejek, Mia and Sydney O’Day, and Bella and Beau Dumas.

The family wish to extend their most heartfelt thanks to Phyrne’s beloved caregivers Jenny Debesingh, Avalene Macdonalds, Angie Ramgoolie, Mathilda Johnson and Patty Shroeder, whose love and compassionate care allowed Phyrne to fulfill her wish of staying home throughout her remaining days. Special thanks and gratitude to Phyrne’s dear friend of many years Annie Morin, who loved her like a second mom, and who honored her late husband’s request to look after Phyrne after he was gone.

Visitation will be from 5pm-7pm on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Clayton Funeral Home at 5530 Broadway, Pearland, Texas. A service honoring Phyrne’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 11am in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church at 2314 North Grand Blvd, Pearland, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First United Methodist Church, 2314 North Grand Blvd, Pearland, Texas 77581 or Providence Place , 326 Sterling Browning Road, Hollywood Park, Texas 78232.