Phyllis Ann Rhodes

Phyllis Ann Rhodes, the fifth child of the late Otto and Reatha (Ferguson) Berry, was born on January 20, 1945 in Bertha, Missouri in Douglas County and departed this life on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 in the Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, following a long illness. She was 63 years, 7 months and 14 days of age.
Phyllis started school in Elwood, Kansas and in 1957 the family moved to the Mtn. Grove area where she graduated from Mtn. Grove High School in 1963. At the age of sixteen, she was employed by Lewis and Lewis Studio where she became an accomplished portrait colorist, adding color to pictures before color film.
She was united in marriage to Virgil Rhodes on October 12, 1964 in Mtn. Grove. One of Phyllis’ fond memories was when she saw her dream man driving down the road in a shiny blue Ford car. She didn’t know his name but chose to call him “Claude Hopper.” Following work one evening Virgil asked her out on a date and that was the beginning of their life long relationship. In the years that followed, two sons, Michael and William, were born to this union. They made their home in Wright County all their lives except for two years when Virgil was in the Army and they were stationed in Giessen, Germany. They both enjoyed this adventure as they took in the sights of Europe together. They liked sharing stories with loved ones and friends over the years.
Phyllis enjoyed being outdoors, especially when fishing and most of the time she caught more fish than anyone else around her. She was an accomplished quilter and used her artistic skills in color and patterns of her quilts. She also loved doing genealogy and finding the facts of her background or playing cards and getting together with her family and friends.
Phyllis was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will ne truly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Besides her parents: Otto and Reatha Berry, she was preceded in death by a nephew: Otto Warren Berry.
She is survived by her husband of almost forty-four years: Virgil Rhodes of their home; her sons: Mike Rhodes and William Rhodes, both of Mtn. Grove; three brothers: Charles Berry and his wife, Shirley, of Easton, Missouri, Clinton “Butch” Berry of St. Louis, Missouri and Mark Berry and his wife, Julie, of Mtn. Grove; three sisters: Evelyn Kincaid of Springfield, Missouri, Addaline “Pat” Plaster and her husband, Russell “Cleon” of Pleasant Hope, Missouri and Gale Robertson of Mtn. Grove; three grandchildren: Jordan, Prescia and Levi; an uncle and aunt: Richard “Dick” and Gladys Ferguson of Dayton, Washington; nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Phyllis left this world as quietly as she lived.
Funeral services for Phyllis Rhodes were held Saturday, September 6, 10:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel with Rev. Jeff Smith and Rev. Adam Parrish officiating. Teresa Lindsay, Penny Sutton and Courtney Hook sang “I Won’t Have To Cross Jordan Alone,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” Pallbearers were Chuck “Charles” Berry, Berry Robertson, Jim Kincaid, Brad Rhodes, Russ Plaster, and Robert Plaster. Honorary pallbearers were Leonard Creed, Russell Plaster, Robert Kinkaid, Mark Berry, Butch Berry, Richard Turnbull, Bobby Crowe and Charles Berry. Burial was in the Lone Star Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Missouri.


Funeral Service:
Saturday, September 6, 10:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.
Visitation:
Friday, September 5, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM in the funeral home.
Burial:
Lone Star Cemetery
Donations:
The family requests that donations be made to the Epilepsy Foundation c/o the funeral home.