Joy Woodard

Phyllis Mulkey

Lane Memorial Gardens

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Phyllis Elaine Willcut was born Saturday, May 28, 1938 to Benjamin Harrison and Leona Pearl Willcut in Salina, Kansas.

Her brother Robert was born the following year.  The family moved from Kansas to Wapato, Washington when she was about three years old.  They moved from Washington to Eugene, Oregon when she was in grade school.  The family attended the Santa Clara Church of Christ and she was baptized into Christ on Christmas Day 1949.

She met her future husband, David, at the Santa Clara Church of Christ.  They both played violin in the junior and high school orchestras.  For four years they played in the Junior Symphony as specially selected players out of the high schools in the area.  They took private violin lessons together.  Phyllis also learned to play the cello in high school. Her sister Delores was born when she was in high school.

After she graduated from Eugene High School she attended one year at Northwest Christian College and one year at San Jose Bible College. She worked at the Erb Memorial Diner at the University of Oregon, Woolworth's lunch counter and cleaned houses.

Phyllis and David were married Sunday, November 23, 1958. When David was serving in the National Guard, she managed their small Landcaster acreage of raspberries, strawberries, a garden, pigs, and a milk cow, and sold berries to the local stores. She helped with the youth group and taught Bible classes at church.  At one point she served as the church librarian.

They moved to the north Eugene area where they raised their three daughters.  Phyllis wore many hats.  She was a true domestic engineer!  She answered the phone, helped with the business, employees, customers, managed the office bookkeeping, gardened, helped with the orchard fruit and nut trees, cooked, cleaned and hosted many guests for dinner in addition to escaping with her girls to do something fun outside.

She and David played their violins in the Eugene Community Orchestra for 26 years and then played with the church orchestra for many years.  While the girls attended the Christian School she volunteered in the classroom.

She supported her husband in his numerous adventures.  They served the nursing home community for many years with a church service once a month and later by bringing many folks to church in a wheelchair van.  She made many sacrifices and hundreds of trips to Central Oregon to help her husband on the hay farm they purchased in the 1980's.

She loved people and went out of her way to help and encourage others. "Vacations" were spent traveling to and visiting family.  Her dream to see Hawaii came true in the last decade.

Phyllis delighted in her grandchildren Caleb, Daniel, Stuart, Ethan, JC, Aurora and Owen. They all have fond memories of her playing with them and spending time with them growing up. She treasured visits by the grandkids and the sweet new grandbabies born. Kenzo, Everleigh, Myles, Ezra and Sephra brought her much joy and she loved receiving photos on her phone of their growth progress.

In spite of heart surgery last year and a cancer diagnosis last fall, Phyllis lived life to the fullest the best she could.  She travelled to north Idaho for a grand niece's wedding in December, to Boise for Christmas, back to Boise in March for birthdays and to meet 2 new grandbabies.  She was excited to celebrate her sister's 50th wedding anniversary in May and attend her niece's wedding in June.  She was grateful to be able to attend worship services each Sunday and fellowship with her church family.

Phyllis passed away in her home July 17 at the age of 87.  We are thankful to God for each day He gave her.

She is survived by her husband David of 67 years, her daughters: Melody Luloff and husband Russell; Joy Woodard and husband Craig; Glory Kendall and husband Lee; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren; her sister, Delores and husband Don; sister in law Dixie; sister in law Patsy and 10 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and brother in law.

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Phyllis Elaine Mulkey

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Phyllis Mulkey Obituary | Altogether

Memorial Keepers (2)

Phyllis Elaine Mulkey

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