Mary Phillips Obituary (1930

Washington: Mary Phillips, 90, of Washington and formerly of Washburn, passed away 8:55 pm, Monday November 16, 2020 at Unity Point Methodist Hospital, Peoria. Visitation will be Saturday November 21, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Calvert and Johnson Memorial Home, Washburn. Memorial services will follow at 2:00 pm. The Rev. Will Meachum will officiate. Burial will follow at Linn-Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Washburn. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that memorials be made to the United Methodist Church, Washburn or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Visitation will be open to the public with social distancing and face masks required. Funeral services will be limited to immediate and extended family only, due to the COVID restrictions. She was born on February 9, 1930 in Peoria, IL to Ora and Mary (Pitlik) Head. She married Charles (Jack) Phillips on August 6, 1949 in Sparland, IL. He preceded her in death on November 22, 2000. Also preceding her in death were six brothers, Cecil, Art, Jack, Don and two in infancy, five sisters, Fern Sutherland, Francis Russel, Alberta Parris, Barbara Fisher, Sharon Lasley and her parents. She is survived by her four children, Karen (Craig) Gerdes, of Eureka, Jackie Oelze, of Washington, Sandy (Dennis) Lee, of West Burlington, Iowa, and Jerry (Kristi) Phillips, of Mackinaw, ten grandchildren, Andrea Schrager, Melinda Rappe, Blake (Chelsea) Oelze, Jordan Oelze, Dalton Lee (Katie Zogg), Trevor Lee, Haley (Brent) Bohlmann, Katie (Nick) Eeten, Jake (Tori) Phillips, Grace Phillips (Collin Soliday) and twelve great grandchildren. Mary loved all her children dearly and was so proud of them. She loved being around them. A visit was her greatest gift. She was a homemaker for many years. She also worked for the Low Point-Washburn School district as a cook for 19 years. She was truly a wonderful cook and enjoyed being around the kids at school. She also worked for Dr. Burdon of Low Point when she was first married. Mary could not finish high school because she had to work to help her large family. She was most proud of herself for going back to school and getting her GED as an adult. She loved to read, cook, bowl, and still had wonderful memories of her Hobby Night friends. Her noodles were famous not only with her family members but also with the Methodist church family in Washburn. The family would like to thank the staff at Supportive Living of Washington where she spent her last four years. Their loving care and kindness will always be remembered, and blessings on the Doctors and nurses at Unity Point whose kindness and compassion made her last days more comfortable.