Phyllis Jean Sinclair was born in Cherryvale, Kansas August 1,1930 during the Great Depression to Ethel and Maynard Sinclair. She enjoyed school, sisters Alice and Eileen, family and church. Dad Maynard was offered a job near Carlsbad, New Mexico to install and run an alfalfa hay mill on a ranching operation. Just like in the Wizard of Oz, the little Kansas Girl was dropped into the New Mexico semi desert ranching country. Phyllis attended Artesia High School her Junior and Senior years.She met a good looking, for real Cowboy from the neighboring community of Hope. Robert Milton Kincaid was a genuine horse-riding, fence building livestock rancher who also played on Hope's State Championship basketball team. Phyllis married her cowboy in Las Cruces, New Mexico December 18, 1948. Shortly after the honeymoon, they moved to the plains of eastern Colorado with a herd of 2000 sheep. Phyllis was made head rescuer of dogie lambs the mama ewes refused to claim when they hit the frozen snowy ground in February. She bottle-fed 20 lambs while living in a 19 foot travel trailer!
The young Kincaid couple made it back to Artesia in time to deliver a lamb of their own-Phyllis Kathleen on September 24, 1949. They leased the country store in Espuela and laid baby Kathy on the big sacks of pinto beans while they tended shop. They offered credit to seasonal farm workers primarily from Mexico. One night the store burned to the ground, destroying their first business. In 1950 they moved with the Alvin Kincaid family to Eastland County, Texas and bought a ranch. Robert hand built a house with rocks off the ranch for their growing family as Eddie, Patsy, Milta, and Becky were born over the next 10 years.
Phyllis launched into young motherhood with a passion. She stayed busy raising kids, cooking, cleaning, washing, and gardening. The 3 Kincaid brothers (Robert, Aubrey, and Don) and father Alvin established the Kincaid Feed and Turkey Hatchery in Eastland, TX. They owned 4 turkey farms that provided Thanksgiving dinners all over the USA. They sold eggs and feed to other growers and were known nationally in the industry. Phyllis became heavily involved in the Eastland community as she took all 5 kids to church, taught Sunday school, joined the Home Demonstration Club, PTA, and served as a 4-H club leader for 15 years. Robert started a Real Estate business in the early 1960's. Phyllis took a job in a ladies garment factory for five years. She juggled endless sporting events, school and 4-H activities, and livestock shows. She was named outstanding Extension Homemaker of Eastland County. Phyllis graduated 5 honor students from Eastland High School!In 1977 Phyllis became "Granny" for the first time!She managed the Kincaid Real Estate office and ran the business end of it. The Kincaids sold many ranches and motel properties. After all the kids left Phyllis began to travel with Robert to find and make the deals. She did all the administrative work as they carried a mobile office in the trunk of their Lincoln Town Car so they could be "ready to close a deal"-no matter where they roamed! They set up an office and residence in Preston Towers in Dallas, then made a deal to buy the Missile Inn in El Paso. Phyllis learned hotel management in a hurry: hiring, maid service, maintenance, payroll, taxes and restaurant management. She embraced it all head on with her boots and cowboy hat wearing country real estate broker. They traded for an Arabian horse farm in Arkansas, then acquired the Cowtown Inn in Ft. Worth.Times were tough during real estate downturns, but the Kincaids were bootstrap kinds of Texans, and they kept at it. The real estate business took them thousands of miles all over the USA and "Granny & Pardner" were partners for 64 years before Robert passed away in 2013.Not one to give up, Phyllis spent the next 13 years enjoying life traveling the world with her daughters and keeping up with 3 generations of grandchildren. She was an excellent cook, seamstress, craftswoman and loved flower gardening. She was always a very fashionably dressed Texas Lady!
When she moved to Marble Falls in 2016 she promptly signed up for art lessons at the age of 85, and established a network of friends at the Marble Falls Church of Christ. She embraced her daughters friends as her own. Phyllis attended the 2025 Eastland Class Reunions at age 95 and saw lots of "kids" as old people that had grown up with her kids! We figured out that she had 4 generations of Kincaids come through the Eastland school district over a span of 70 years. Phyllis was a TRUE MAVERICK!Phyllis fought breast cancer twice in her lifetime before succumbing at 95 years and 11 months. Her family wishes to thank the Accent Home Health team and Baylor Scott & White Hospice as well as final caregiver, Gloria Lopez Smith. We thank the team of doctors who kept her going the final 3 years of her life. She embraced the challenge with her PINK OUT BOXING GLOVES on and fought back daily to continue a full life.
Surviving Children: Phyllis Kathleen Nobles, Karl Edward Kincaid, Patricia Ann Benson (Eric), Milta Louise Vance, Rebecca Jane McFarland (Jack)Grandchildren: Joshua Vance (Brandy), Wil Hogan (Shelby), Heather Baze (John Mark), Kimberly Benson, Dennis Arnold (Ginger), Deborah Graybeal (Walter), Byron Vance (Miller), Kathryn Ferguson (Bob) Great Grandchildren: Riley Vance (Janae), Lourdes Vance, Jaci and Hana Hogan, Addalyn Jackson, Harley, John David, Eric, and Matrim Baze, Drake, Max and Jack Arnold, Allie and Josh Graybeal, Tabitha ArnoldGreat Great Grandchildren: Valyn & Blair Vance, Kreed Thompson Other Surviving family members: Don Kincaid, Greg DeGiere (Libby), Erika Jones, Jean McCraner Jones, Mike Carter, Linda Brown, Guy Kincaid (Tina), Scott Kincaid (Tammy), Pamela Kincaid, Deneice Vance (Jeff), Delaine Nothum (Steve) and many other loved ones.
Memorial Contributions may be sent to Cherokee Home for Children, PO Box 295, Cherokee, TX 76832 or Fosters Home for Children, 1779 North Graham St, Stephenville, TX 76401.
