Beckley - The family of Phyllis Spurlock of Beckley announce her unexpected passing on August 30, 2025.

Phyllis is survived by her aunt Lucille Mitchell of Parkersburg, WV; her sister Sue Moore of Parkersburg, WV; her son Craig Spurlock (Carolyn) of Columbus, OH; son Barry Spurlock (Buffy) of Cool Ridge, WV; eight grandchildren - Kelsey, Caitlin, Austin, Bailey, Piper, Addison, Laken & Kallen; and 4 great-grandchildren - Cedar, Paxton, Magnolia & Ada.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Burl H. & Kathleen Shimp Valentine, of Vienna, WV, and a son, Morgan Spurlock, of New York.

She was born Phyllis Ann Valentine in Boone County, WV on July 17, 1942. She graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1959, received a Bachelor of Arts in teaching from Glenville State College in 1963, and a Master of Arts in guidance counseling from Ohio University in 1970. She married Ben Spurlock in 1962 (div, 1988), the father of her three sons. She began teaching in Wood County, WV, and then spent over 30 years as a guidance counselor in Raleigh County, WV, serving, Clear Fork, Shady Spring Junior High & Park Junior High, where she was a guiding light, a shoulder to cry on, an understanding ear to listen, but most often, a champion of those misunderstood and underappreciated. She co-founded and helped orchestrate the success of Camp Saga, a creative writing camp held each summer for many years for the students of Raleigh County Schools.

Phyllis was a voracious reader, a passion that she passed on to her children and grandchildren, and was an active book group participant, attending her last just two days before her passing. She was an active member of the Raleigh County Friends of the Library, helping to raise money for the library through their semi-annual book sales. She was also an active member of her sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, and a member of St. Francis De Sales Parrish of the Catholic Church.

A wonderful cook and baker, she could always be found in the kitchen "whipping something up", whether one of her delicious pie, cake or cookie recipes, or her unrivaled dinner rolls, which could morph unexpectedly into cinnamon or pepperoni rolls at the blink of an eye. A lover of pets throughout her life, from Brownie, her pet ground hog when she was a little girl, to Topo, a fox terrier that was part of the family when arriving in Beckley, to Gabby, a premature kitten she helped to rescue and bottle fed back to health that was with her at the end. She loved watching and feeding the birds in her backyard, and it was poetic & fitting that she was feeding her birds when she passed.

A memorial service will be held for family and friends on November 8, 2025, at Black Knight Country Club.

The family asks that those wishing to honor her memory, make donations to the Raleigh County Friends of the Library, 221 N. Kanawha St, Beckley, WV 25801.

Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net.

Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 1901 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV.