Mrs. Phyllis Marie (Weir) Smith

Phyllis Marie Smith, 99, of Galesburg, died at 8:09 p.m. Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Seminary Manor.

She was born September 6, 1918, in Galesburg, the daughter of Ben Clarence and Helen Marie (Gustafson) Weir.  She married Daniel I. Smith February 16, 1941, in Rio.  He preceded her in death February 28, 2012 after 71 years of marriage.

Phyllis graduated from Alpha High School in 1937 and Morris Beauty School in 1938.  After marriage to Dan in February 1941, she lived briefly in Tennessee and Oregon while Dan was stateside in the U.S. Army.  After his service in World War II, they resided in the North Henderson area.  They moved to the Galesburg area in the 1950’s, where she was a homemaker and assisted with the family farm.  She was previously a member of the Wataga Congregational Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and was an active member of the Ladies Aide Society.  Phyllis enjoyed the friendships of neighbors, attending and hosting the Neighborhood Club and the Bunco Club.  Prior to retirement to Cottonwood, Arizona, Phyllis and Dan were members of the First United Presbyterian Church in Galesburg. 

Phyllis was artistic and creative.  She expressed her creativity through handiwork such as embroidery, crocheting, and sewing.  In the 1950’s, she was an amateur Milliner, creating many hats in the “Pill Box” style.  A specialty were her custom hats created of pheasant feathers. She always wanted to learn to paint and was pleased to take lessons and paint with her friend, Marilyn Blaze.

She is survived by a daughter, Doris (Richard) Kowalski of Galesburg; two grandchildren, Sterling Kowalski of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Aimee Wingo of Texas; two great grandchildren, also of Texas; a nephew, James (Diane) McCaw of Benson, Arizona; and nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews from the Weir and Smith families.  In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Janet Smith; a granddaughter, Angela Wingo; a brother, Gale Weir; two sisters, Betty McCaw Standard and Gwen French; a niece, Bonnie McCaw Carrera; and nephews, Chris French and Michael Smith.

Phyllis, or “Phyll” as her good friends knew her, will be remembered for her kind heart and giving spirit.   

Cremation was accorded. A celebration of her life will be held 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel. Private family burial will be in Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to The Richard S. Kowalski Endowment for Staff Education and Development - OSF St. Mary Medical Center Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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