Mary Phelps

MARY MARCIA PHELPS, 76, of Mattoon, IL passed away at 8:32 A.M. on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at Palm Terrace of Mattoon, IL.

Graveside services were held at Noon on Thursday, September 29, 2011 at the Zion Hill Cemetery in rural Mattoon, IL. Pastor Zandra Anderson officiated.

Mary was born on January 18, 1935 in Effingham County, IL. She was a daughter of Ivan and Mary (Austin) Anderson. She married Leonard Paul Phelps on April 4, 1975 in Mattoon, IL.

She is survived by her husband Paul Phelps of Mattoon, IL, one daughter, Tracy Pitts and her husband Michael of Windsor, IL, three sisters, Margaret “Mickie” Busher of Effingham, IL, Glenda Kingery and her husband Vernon of Riverview, FL and Margie Anderson and her husband Steven Lister of Hendersonville, TN; one brother, Allen Dale Anderson and his wife Roxy of Shelbyville, TX; four grandchildren, Jennifer Bryant and Qualtrell Favours of Terre Haute, IN, Justin Woolard and his wife Jai of Windsor, IL Tyler Woolard of Shelbyville, IL and Joshua Pitts and Kelsey Szachnitowski of Windsor, IL. She also has four great-grandchildren, Amelia Favours, Jovahn Favours, Zayne Szachnitowski and Blake Pitts.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Norma Hoffman.

Mary graduated from Effingham High School in 1952. She went to Lake Land College where she became a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked as a LPN for over thirty years.

She was a Cub fan and enjoyed watching them on TV while drinking Coke and eating a Hershey bar. She was an avid reader and gardener. She especially enjoyed growing roses. Mary could also play the piano and sang soprano.