The College of Arts & Letters is mourning the passing of Phylis Floyd, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) who retired in 2022. Floyd passed away on Dec. 13, 2024. She was 72 years old.
“On behalf of the Department of Art, Art History, and Design where Phylis taught for many years, our hearts go out to all her loved ones,” said Robert McCann, Interim Chair of AAHD. “Phylis was an energetic, dedicated teacher and scholar. She will be missed by the MSU colleagues and students who got to know her.”
Floyd had a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Michigan. Her diverse scholarship spanned modern art, including extensive research on the influence of Japanese art and design in 19th century Western Europe. As a faculty member at Michigan State University, she shared her expertise and love for art with her students, inspiring them with her knowledge, creativity, and enthusiasm.
Her contributions to the field extended beyond the classroom through her book and article publications. She also contributed to the Kresge Art Museum as a curator for a number of years.
The College of Arts & Letters wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Floyd’s family and friends.
“Phylis was an energetic, dedicated teacher and scholar. She will be missed by the MSU colleagues and students who got to know her.”
Robert McCann, Interim Chair of AAHD
Floyd was dedicated to the betterment of the environment. In keeping with these values and her dedication to environmental conservation, she will be laid to rest in the Green Burial section of Summit Cemetery in Williamston, Michigan, during a special service that will take place on Dec. 20, 2024, at 1 p.m.
A memorial service also is scheduled for Dec. 22, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home located at 205 E. Middle Street in Williamston, Michigan. Friends and family are invited to come and share their stories and remembrances of Floyd.
In lieu of sending cut flowers, the family encourages all who wish to honor Floyd’s memory to plant a tree and/or flowers, symbolizing her dedication to nature and nurturing life. The Department of Art, Art History, and Design planted a grove of 50 trees in her memory through the Arbor Day Foundation.
For more information, see Floyd’s obituary.
