Phyllis Ruth Zarek

A memorial service will be held Saturday for longtime Farmington resident and retired teacher Phyllis Zarek. The Celebration of Life service will be held at the Memorial United Methodist Church of Farmington at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2006. Mrs. Zarek led a full and active life until she became ill and was hospitalized four months ago. After a courageous fight toward rehabilitation, she passed away July 31, 2006, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis at the age of 69 years. Phyllis Ruth Bessler was born November 29, 1936, in Conway, AR, and grew up in St. Louis. She earned a bachelors degree from Drury College in Springfield, MO and later a masters degree from Webster University in St. Louis. Mrs. Zarek taught art for 24 years. She was a Farmington High School art teacher for more than 15 years, and for four years she also sponsored the high school pom pom squad. She then taught art at Farmington elementary schools for several years. Mrs. Zarek was named Farmington R-7 Teacher of the Year in 1989. After retiring in 1991, Mrs. Zarek was an art teacher at Farmington Correctional Center for three years. Throughout her life, art continued to be a hobby and a gift-giving expression. During her retirement years, Mrs. Zarek also enjoyed teaching water aerobics in Farmington and traveling to visit family and friends. She was a longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority. In recent years, she was a member of the local Red Hat Society. Mrs. Zarek was preceded in death by her parents, William and Melba (Baade) Bessler, and one brother, Richard L. Bessler. She is survived by her husband, Rudy Zarek of Farmington, three daughters, Karen Dickenson Oglesby of Pecos, TX, Kathleen Dickenson Drew of Orange Park, FL, and Lynne Zarek of Boise, ID, one son, Alan Zarek of Canton,OH, one brother, Arthur C. Bessler of Kirkwood, three grandsons and one granddaughter, numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.