Phyllis V. Morin

March 3, 1927 — February 2, 2016

Phyllis V. Morin, 89, passed into our Father’s house on Feb. 2, 2016, at Northwestern Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz.

She was born Mary Phyllis Valentine, March 3, 1927, to Ross Lynn and May (Touhy) Valentine in Peoria.

Phyllis married Eugene Harrison Morin in 1948.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and one sister, Mary Frances (Donna) Arnold.

She is survived by one sister, Lynn Brooks (Del Hamm) of Long Beach, Calif.; five children, Karen Schildt (George) of Danville, Kevin Morin of Kenai, Alaska, Christine Cook (Britt) of Kenai, Paul Morin (Rebecca) of Tucson, Ariz., and Phillip Morin (Chris) of Kenai.

Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Nathan and Devin Schildt, Ian Cook and Megan Green, Elliott, Maxwell and Nicholas Morin and Paul S. and Michael Morin; and eight great-grandchildren: Ryan and Meagan Schildt, Mark and Avery Schildt, Elijah and Amelia Green, Maya and Hailey Cook.

She also leaves behind many beloved nephews and nieces and members of her extended family, all of whom enriched her life.

Phyllis was a life-long reader and spent many hours with her children and grandchildren, adult reading programs and grade schoolers in the Arlington School District to pass on the gift of reading proficiency.

She began knitting while the family lived in Alaska. It took a lot of mittens, caps and sweaters to get five children through those winters. She later turned this skill to hundreds of hats and sweaters she sent with missionaries from Alaska and Washington.

Not much of a gardener and not an eager cook, Phyllis will long be known for her dinner rolls, “chicken-on-the-bone” and fabulous fruit leathers.

To honor her wishes, she will be cremated with a memorial service at a later date. Memorial gifts to your local library would be welcome.