Phyllis Jane

Phyllis Reed was born on October 30, 1931 in Mannsville, NY. She passed on to her maker on September 5, 2016 at the Houston Hospice Center in Houston, Texas surrounded by family and friends. She grew up on the family farm in Mannsville, NY and attended Belleville Central School. In the early 1950s, Phyllis played shortstop on the "Stones' Dairy Maids" softball team. Her coach was quoted, "Phyllis is such an amazing athlete. She is a second Babe Didrikson!" When school was completed, Phyllis worked on her parents' farm, but in 1955 she decided to dedicate her life to helping others. She began work at the Rochester Friendly Nursing Home while attending school to become a licensed practical nurse. Once she received her LPN certificate, Phyllis worked caring for patients at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. In 1959, Phyllis moved to Houston, Texas and acquired a nursing position working on medical floors, in the intensive care unit, and in the operating rooms at The Houston Methodist Hospital. The main surgeon she worked with was, an ophthalmology surgeon, Dr. Alice McPherson who specialized in laser surgery. Phyllis Reed is remembered by her friends and co-workers as an advocate for her patients, her friends, her co-workers and the down trodden. She was the rare combination of compassion, strength, love, humor, and mechanical expertise. After 27 years of service, in 1986, Phyllis retired from nursing at The Houston Methodist Hospital, but continued assisting people with their medical problems by participating in home health care through 2016. Phyllis is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Stuart Marquart (Canton, NY); 3 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, and 2 great-grandsons. Phyllis has 4 surviving sisters, Arlean Reed Cobb (Henderson, NY), June Reed Lavezzo (Pulaski, NY), Jane Reed Hetko (Rochester, NY), Joyce Reed Claflin (Belleville, NY), sister-in-law, Marcia Jones Reed (Adams, NY) and many nieces and nephews. Six brothers Bernard, Willard, Donald, Richard, Maurice, and Frank and 3 sisters Shirley Reed Crandall, Betty Reed Towles, and Jean Reed Bigelow all died before her. There will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at the Belleville Cemetery (Woodside) for the family on Saturday, September 24 at 10:00am. If you wish, donations may be made to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, Texas 77030; www.houstonhospice.org. Arrangements are with Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home, Belleville. Condolences may be made at www.carpenterstoodley.com

Service Information

September 24, 2016 10:00am, Belleville Cemetery (Woodside)