Phyllis Elaine Smith was born September 27, 1927 to Walter and Grace (Young) Phelps in rural Decatur, Nebraska. She passed away June 24, 2017 at the Elmwood Care Center in Onawa, Iowa, at the age of 89 years.

On December 27, 1949, Phyllis and James Lawrence Smith were united in marriage at the Riverside Baptist Church in rural Tekamah, Nebraska. Their union was blessed with five sons, Dale, Calvin, Keith, Roger and Ted.

In 1951, James and Phyllis purchased the farm on County Road 32, three miles southwest of Decatur, where they farmed and raised their family. Phyllis attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska and taught at the Farrens Country School. After raising the boys, Phyllis worked at True Hardware, Reigers Café, Dunham Clothing in Onawa and at the Decatur Senior Center.

Phyllis’ had a passion for gardening, baking and spending time with her grandkids. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Decatur.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim; son, Ted; brothers, Bill Phelps, Doyle Phelps and Paul Phelps; sister, Helen Newton; brothers-in-law, Ed Smith, Jim Hopkins; sisters-in-law, Alice Hopkins, Maxine Phelps, Melva Huffman, Helen Phelps.

She is survived by her children, Dale (Janet) Smith of Blair, Calvin (Susan) Smith, Keith (Peggy) Smith, Roger Smith all of Decatur; daughter-in-law, Linda Smith and Reagan Homandberg of Alcester, SD; brothers; sister-in-law, Darlene Smith of Decatur; 8 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.