Phyllis Ann Hawkes Draper Nibley was born August 2, 1926, in Salt Lake City Utah, to Edla Kristina Charlotte Peterson Hawkes and Frederick Pratt Hawkes, and died February 25, 2022, aged 95, of natural causes and being just really, really tired. Before she was two, Phyllis's parents divorced. A few years afterwards, Edla married Otto Ludwig Draper, who later adopted Phyllis, moving the family to Oregon until his untimely death, when Edla moved back to Utah. Phyllis's family included a step-brother, Bill, and two half-brothers, Raymond and Otto Jr., as well as many cousins and aunts and uncles whom she sometimes lived with as she grew up in Salt Lake and Midvale. Phyllis bought herself a ¾-sized cello when she began attending Jordan High School during the War (Go Beetdiggers), and quickly fell in love with the instrument. After her high school graduation she went to Brigham Young University, where she studied music, English and French. There she met Hugh Nibley, a beginning professor of little consequence, who also fell in love with her cello--and with her. She married him on September 18, 1946 in the Salt Lake City temple. The couple had nine children, seven of whom are living. Phyllis was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she served in many positions throughout her life, including primary and Sunday School teacher, Relief Society instructor, and Relief Society Presidencies, including president, at the ward level and on the RS board at the stake level. Her love of the scriptures and the gospel extended far beyond reading. Indeed we may say she followed the admonition of Saint Francis: "preach the gospel in all things; if necessary, use words." She was generous, forgiving and nonjudgmental. Church was a place of community and companionship for Phyllis, especially when she was able to serve in her callings, and when she joined others in relief society homemaking days when they were devoted to sewing and needlework. She was an exacting tailor, making beautiful clothes for her kids when they were little, all the way up to wedding dresses. She could also crochet, knit, embroider, smock and do all kinds of needlepoint and fiber arts; and in her hands, the fibers truly did become art. Phyllis loved classical music, and playing the cello in the Utah Valley Symphony was her most beloved, defining hobby. For many decades she never missed a rehearsal or a concert, and was the music librarian for the orchestra. Some of her greatest friendships were with fellow members, especially Barbara Williams and Betty Jo Davis, who shared library duties with her. Phyllis was a voracious, ridiculously fast and thorough reader. In addition to editing and proofreading Hugh's many manuscripts, she was constantly surrounded by books of all kinds, and was known to "plant" books around the home for children to learn from. No one knows if she ever left a book unfinished. Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Hugh, sons Isaac and Thomas, and granddaughter Natalie Mincek, as well as her brothers Raymond and Otto Draper. She is survived by children Paul (Bronia), Christina Mincek (Zdravko), Michael (Sandra), Charles Alexander (Junalee), Rebecca Nibley, Martha Beck (Karen, Rowan), and Zina Petersen. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, with one more expected this summer. Funeral services will be Saturday March 12, 2022 at 11am in the Edgemont 2nd Ward, 555 East 3230 North, Provo. Family and friends may visit Friday evening from 6-8pm at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, or Saturday morning at the church from 9:30-10:30 am. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.walkersanderson.com. Service Link: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1646979541171993