Phyllis Anne Bunting

Obituary Phyllis Anne Bunting
Phyllis Anne Bunting, a long-time Arvada resident who founded the Arvada United Methodist Church's Kids Discovery Days Preschool Program, and who loved music, singing in the choir, and traveling with her beloved husband, died on September 5, 2023, in Westminster, Colorado. She was 79.
Phyllis was born October 29, 1943, in Athabasca, Canada, and grew up in Warner, Alberta, Canada. She graduated from University of Alberta at Edmonton with Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science in Household Economics in 1965.

Travel was a favorite activity throughout her life. She met her husband, John Bunting, after college while on a road trip with friends to Yellowstone National Park, where John was working with the park service. They were married 54 years.

Phyllis became a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen with an active interest in politics. In 2008, she attended the Democratic National Convention and heard Barack Obama's speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination at Mile High Stadium.

She was a lifelong educator who taught school in Calgary, Alberta, and served as a substitute teacher in Columbia, Georgia, and Boulder and Jefferson Counties, Colorado.

In 1994, she founded the Kids Discovery Days Preschool Program, a free standing, tuition-funded program at Arvada United Methodist Church, where she served as Director until 2010. She grew the program from 12 children to 120 children over 16 years and ensured it was state-licensed and accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Phyllis loved music and sang in University of Alberta choir, Arvada Chorale, and Jefferson Unitarian Church choir. She served as the President of the United Methodist Women at Arvada United Methodist for several years in 1990s and was active in various committees. Phyllis was also an avid reader and attended several Banff Book Weekends for Canadian authors books.

Phyllis was buried on September 9 at Evergreen Memorial Park alongside her daughter, Lu. She is survived by her husband, John Bunting of Arvada, Colo.; son David and wife Jan De Leon Bunting of Santa Clara, Calif.; her sister Susan Scott and nephew Ryan and wife Karen Veale of Calgary, Alberta; her brother Robert and wife Cheryl Woodford of White Horse, Yukon; as well as nephews and nieces in Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon, Canada.
A memorial service will be held at Jefferson Unitarian Church, 14350 West 32nd Avenue, Golden, Colorado, on October 21 at 10:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Kids Discovery Days at Arvada United Church, 6750 Carr Street, Arvada, CO 80004.