Myrna I. Phillips

Myrna I. Phillips, age 90 of Astoria, IL, passed away at 1:20 pm Monday, March 4, 2019 at the Clayberg Nursing Center in Cuba, IL. She was born on April 17, 1928 in Astoria, the daughter of Hugh and Susie (Farwell) Curless. She married Medford S. Phillips, on December 25, 1948 in Astoria. He preceded her in death on December 5, 1995.

Myrna was also preceded in death by son-in-law Bill Carithers, grandson Nathan Hazzard, great-granddaughters Samantha and Reese Carithers, sisters; Opal Schisler, Nellie Ruth, Olive Howe, Nora Curless, and Edith Lee, and brothers; John, Jack, Ted, and Bill Curless.

Surviving are two daughters, Nancy Carithers of Astoria and Nicki (and Richard) Hazzard of Lewistown, IL, five grandchildren; Michelle (and Phillip) Scrogum, Mike (and Kerri) Carithers, Wesley (and Stephanie) Carithers, Jarod (and Susan) Hazzard, and Jacob (and Jenna) Hazzard, one step-granddaughter Angie Williams, ten great-grandchildren; Abbie and Noah Scrogum, Jessica, Austin, McKenna, and Addyson Carithers, Casey, Brayden, Nikita, and Cole Carithers, three step-great-grandchilkdren Alyssa, Kylie, and Courtney, ten step-great-great-grandchildren, and one sister Doris Robertson of Ipava, IL.

Myrna was a farm wife who raised chickens and miniature horses. She worked at PAG, Astoria Fiber Steel, and DANA Corp. in Havana, IL. Her door was always open to anyone who wanted to play cards, games, hang-out, or shoot skeet. She was always available to help raise the grandkids and cheer them on in whatever they found interesting, be it sports, academics, music, or theater.

Her greatest achievement, besides her family, was passing the GED exam at the age of 70. She worked as a kindergarten aid and helped her grandson at the family orchard. She loved to hunt, fish, pick mushrooms and black raspberries, and work in her flowers and garden. She was a seamstress and quilt maker. She enjoyed going on the occasional gambling trip with her friends. She was an avid reader, rode her 4-wheeler, and loved following her family on Facebook.

To Myrna, there was no other team but her St. Louis Cardinals.

Services will be held on Friday, March 8th at 11:30 am. Pastor Gary Sheets will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, prior to the service. Interment will be in the Astoria Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Astoria Cemetery, Mt. Zion Cemetery, or the Astoria Fire and Rescue Squad.