Phyllis I. (Sawyer) Nickson

Phyllis I. (Sawyer) Nickson, age 81, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024 at the East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, United Kingdom. Funeral services are pending near Oxted where she resided. Private burial will be with her former husband in Oxted Cemetery near St. Mary’s Church which was founded in 1086.

Phyllis was born on October 6, 1943 in Davenport, Iowa to Harold and Gertrude Sawyer. Growing up on their farm, she attended grade school near Princeton, Iowa. She attended Bettendorf High School her freshman year, and graduated in North Scott’s class of 1961. Working several summers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Clock Tower Building, Phyllis graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in music. She taught vocal music in Cedar Falls, Iowa before also teaching in North St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Phyllis married Daniel C.G. Nickson of London, UK, in Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge, Iowa on February 12, 1972. They resided some years in London before moving to Oxted, in Surrey, United Kingdom. An avid gardener, Danny worked promoting British Airways until retiring. Phyllis had formerly worked for Belwin-Mills music publishing; Gaelic Resources, an oil exploration company; and a London institute for the arts. They frequently entertained numerous travelers, relatives, friends and acquaintances from their business and private lives. For her 80th birthday she hosted several dozen for buffet lunch and afternoon tea at Horsted Place, Uckfield, UK accompanied by a harpist. 

In her early years Phyllis had played organ at Zion Lutheran Church--Princeton, Iowa, and churches in Cedar Falls, Iowa and Golden Valley, Minnesota. An avid pianist, she also played for many local musical theater productions in Shakopee, Minnesota, and the Barn Theater in Oxted, UK.

She is survived by her sister Kathy (& Steve) Johnson, Bettendorf, Iowa, and five nieces and nephews and their families, including seven great nieces and great nephews. Marcus & Emma Johnson live in Marion, IA; Kara & Patrick Hobart live in New Hope, MN. Herbert & Meredith Sawyer live in Chicago, IL; Neal & Lucie Sawyer near Princeton, IA; and Sarah & Mike Zahradnik near New Vienna, IA. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Danny Nickson; her brother Norman Sawyer and sister-in-law Lorna (Tank) Sawyer, of Princeton and Davenport, Iowa; and her brother-in-law Richard Nickson and his spouse Noreen, New York, USA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 166, 204 Great River Road, Princeton, Iowa, 52768, the Parkinson’s Foundation, or the Bluebell Railway Museum, A275, Uckfield TN22 3QL, United Kingdom.