Phyllis J. Sprague

Phyllis J. Sprague left this life and went to be with the Lord June 9, 2022. Phyllis was born in Pekin, IL to Virgil and Minnie Lord Dorsey on December 16, 1939. She was the youngest of 11 siblings (4 sisters) Virginia, Ethel, Joan and Bernetta and (6 brothers) Cecil, Melvin, Don, Oscar, Jim, and Lyle. They all greeted her in Heaven but she had a strong group of loving nieces and nephews remaining

Phyllis married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Frank Sprague, on July 7, 1957. They lived in Farmington and raised four children – Julie (Dave) Werland, Dan Sprague, Darren (Brynda) Sprague all of Farmington and Doug (Tricia) Sprague of Decatur. They loved their 13 grandchildren all over the country (Heather (John) Messer, Holly (Mike) Arnett, Josh (Jennifer) Sheckler, John (Becca) Werland, Desera (Scott) Evans, Meghan (Troy) Kateman, Liza (Joe) Dziki, Kerrick (Angel) Sprague, Aspen Sprague, Kierney Sprague, Kayla (Chase) Welker, Alli (Nic) Scapecchi and Macie Sprague. They were also blessed to enjoy 18 great grandchildren Meisa and Joslyn Brown, Cody, Samuel, and Josh Arnett, Sarah and Connor Sheckler, Wesley Miklus, Caden and Brynja Werland, Mallorie Manning, Carlye Dicketts, Emily and Ben Dziki, Wesley and Braden Sprague, Brynden and Brexley Welker.
Phyllis graduated from Farmington High School as a straight A student. She spent her life as a loving and hard-working homemaker and lived her life loving and taking care of her family and her beloved dog Lucy. The love, caring and respect between Frank and Phyllis was an example to all who knew them. Phyllis early married life was happy but included losing everything they owned to fire and their children being born premature. Through it all they faced it together. She was vey involved in all of her children’s activities, most notably summer Little League. Frank was a longtime baseball coach and Phyllis worked the concession stands. They loved their trips to Minnesota fishing and after retirement spent each winter for 20 years in Florida on the beaches and then fishing at Crooked Hook campground and loved the people and activities there. As Phyllis wrote last year “After they sold their Florida home, they enjoyed life at home with their Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. I think we were able to have this beautiful life because we loved each other and trusted in God to guide us. You can face anything if you believe and trust in God and each other.!!!” Frank took such good care of her and never left her side during her illness.
The measure of person is best learned by the words those who knew and loved them use to remember her: beautiful…holding my grandpa’s hand…strong fighter…..loved fishing……..enjoyed line dancing to country music. ,,,watching Fox News…a month away from their 65th wedding Anniversary….fiercest woman I knew…loved endlessly…unwavering in her values and beliefs…taught me to be strong and sure in what I stood for…installed an interest in news and politics….fun of puzzles in the paper every morning, love of a good cup of coffee…the value of loving your family and your significant other with no end…amazing example my grandma & grandpa set for all of us for marriage and making a life together…life will not be the same without you…thankful and privileged to say you were such a huge part of my life…you and grandpa never missed a sporting event…countless summers spent at your house…..card games and puzzles…the love Grandpa and you shared is something I will cherish …catching crappies…dancing. ..life well lived…thank you for showing me what pure unconditional love is especially held up in sickness and in health…learned to explore, swim, enjoyed morning coffee and got my Grandpa off to work…taught me a lot about love and the meaning of family…I will miss our phone calls and visits…until next time…miss you already…love you more than you will ever know.
A family Celebration of Life will be held in July and burial at a later date. Memorials can be made to Farmington Rescue Squad or Unity Point Hospice.