Phyllis Ann Huff Taylor Whitley, 79, passed away peacefully November 30, 2018 at Via Elegante. She had fought a long battle with both dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Phyllis and her twin Phillip were born October 3, 1939 in Centralia, Illinois, the last of ten children of Aloysius and Helen Marie Huff.
Phyllis attended St. Mary’s parochial school and graduated from Centralia High School in 1957. She then pursued a business degree at a junior college. She married James Taylor in 1961 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Centralia.
Jim and Phyllis raised four children: Anthony (Tony), David, Marie and Andrea. In the early 1960’s, the family moved to Belleville, Illinois. Phyllis became an active member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and remained a parishioner there for over forty years.
Phyllis was widowed in 1984. She joined ATT and spent eighteen years as a customer technician before retiring in 2004. Early in 2006 in Sierra Vista, she met Fred Whitley, also widowed.
They undertook a long distance courtship which culminated in their marriage June 14, 2008 at St. Augustine in Belleville. They relocated to a new home Hereford, Arizona. Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, her first husband Jim, sister Rose Smith and brothers Carl Huff, James (Wib) Huff, Pat Huff (Joan), and Robert Huff.
She is survived by her four children and spouses Linda Taylor, DeeDee Taylor, and Tracy Carlson. Her eight grandchildren are Jeremy Buesking, Alexandra Grumley (Todd), Brandon Taylor, Andrew Taylor, Hunter Carlson, Brooklyn Carlson, Dylan Taylor and Dean Taylor. Additionally, she is survived by her sisters Clara Schnake and Mary Mann (Jack) both in Illinois, and brothers Phil Huff (Nancy) in Houston, Texas and Ray Huff (Jane) in Hereford, Arizona.
Other survivors are her stepchildren Jennifer Scaffidi (Michael), Derek Whitley (Shannon), Christy Love (Chris) and five step grandchildren. Phyllis was affectionately known as “Aunt Bugs” by her 44 nieces and nephews and their families and many of them considered her to be their favorite. At Phyllis’ request, two funeral Masses are being scheduled, the first at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Sierra Vista next Monday, December 10 at 10:30 a.m. with a lunch reception to follow at the church, and the second at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Belleville, Illinois.
Her ashes will be buried with the remains of James Taylor in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Other details are pending. Special thanks for the wonderful and caring assistance Phyllis received over the past few years from Bright Star Home Health Care, the staff at Via Elegante, Dr. Santaran Patel, and Valor Hospice.
Memorials may be made in her name to All Saints School in Sierra Vista.
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