Mary M. Phillips 1939-2022

PHILLIPS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/3/2024 at 23:20:05

Mary M. Phillips
(December 3, 1939 - April 22, 2022)

Mary M. Phillips passed away peacefully on Friday, April 22, 2022, at Accura Healthcare in Pomeroy, Iowa, with her husband Walt by her side. Mary Martha Dexter was born to parents James Grant and Bessie Ruth Trimble Dexter on December 3, 1939, on a farm near Ware, Iowa. She attended school at Ware and Havelock, graduating from Havelock High School in 1957. She worked for Civic Reading Club (Look Magazine) and lived in Des Moines, Iowa from her graduation until her marriage. Mary and Walter Phillips were married November 17, 1957, at the Havelock Methodist Church, Havelock, Iowa. Walt was stationed in the US Army in Erlangen, Germany where they lived from 1958-1959. They farmed for 40 years near Pocahontas. Mary’s favorite thing to do on the farm was combine corn. Mary was a lifelong member of Hope United Methodist Church-Pocahontas. She volunteered on every committee throughout the years and was an active participant of the Charity Circle, United Methodist Women, Church Choir, Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. She was a member and enjoyed activities with the Pocahontas Christian Women’s Club, Character Education Committee, Pocahontas Community Chorus, K&K Club, Order of Eastern Star, Pocahontas Women’s Club, and TTT. She was a Rialto Theater volunteer. Being named the Grand Marshal of the 2017 Pocahontas Heritage Days celebration was a “great honor.” She especially enjoyed her grandchildren’s activities, hardly ever missing a ball game, concert, track meet, swing show, or play. Mary was employed by the Pocahontas Pharmacy, the Pocahontas Home Care Aide Agency, and the Pocahontas Record-Democrat. In her spare time, Mary enjoyed spending time with family and friends, singing, shopping, traveling with family, reading, writing in her diary, gardening, and baking. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother James (Jean) Dexter of Fort Dodge and brother-in-law Don (Carol) McCartan. She is survived by husband, Walt Phillips; sisters Carol McCartan of Ankeny, Linda (Paul) Abrahamson of Spencer, and Ruth (John) Starks of Maple Grove, MN; children, Scott Phillips of Pocahontas, Cindy (Rick) Gleason of Windsor, CO, and Mark (Krystal) Phillips of Pocahontas; 10 grandchildren; Ann (Phil Mayo) Phillips, Jill Phillips, Michael Phillips, Zachary Miller, Thaddeus (Chelsea Leschinsky) Miller, Trevor (Katie) Miller, Holly (Adam) Jergens, Leah Phillips, Laura Phillips, Grace (Colt) Wandrey; 2 step-grandchildren; Tony (Lauren) Gleason, and Jillian Gleason; 5 great-grandchildren; Benjamin Miller, Hayden Miller, Addison Phillips, Maude Phillips Mayo, and Spencer Miller; 3 step-great-grandchildren; Knox Gleason, Redding Gleason, and Beck Gleason. Copyright Lampe & Powers Funeral Home, (712) 464-7665, https://www.powersfh.net