Mary Jane Phelps

Mary Jane Phelps, age 87, passed away May 5, 2017, in her daughters’ home in Meridian, MS. She was born on February 25, 1930 in Clinton County, IL. She married Doyel Phelps, an Air Force veteran, on December 24, 1949 in Carlyle, IL. She was the mother of Keith Phelps and his wife Dreama of Odin, IL; Lynn Florreich and her husband Dennis of Meridian, MS; Karen Boring and her husband Joe of Anderson, SC; Kevin Phelps and his wife Heather of Chester, VA. She was also survived by 8 grandchildren: Jared Florreich and his wife KayCee of Arlington, TX; Ryan Florreich and his wife Catherine of Jackson, MS; Caitlin and Caleb Boring of Anderson, SC; Kendall, Clark, Kara, and Kinsey Phelps of Chester, VA; as well as two great grandchildren Bryce Florreich and McNeel Florreich.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 64 yrs, Doyel; her late parents, James Fountain and Bertha Ethel Clark; brother, William and wife Addie Clark of Carlyle, IL; sister Anna Mae and husband Freddie Foster of New Minden, IL; brother- in- law Tilford Taylor of Carlyle, IL; and her sister-in-law Marcella Clark of Bartelso, IL. Mary is survived by her sister Sarah and husband Karl Kues of Pocahontas, IL; brother James Clark of Bartelso, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary was a beloved Christian lady with an unforgettable smile and infectious laugh. Mary enjoyed horticulture, especially her beautiful African Violets. She enjoyed traveling with her family, collecting Hummel’s and souvenir spoons and graciously entertaining family and friends. Mary was a meticulous homemaker, but also very active in her home church, Our Savior Lutheran, and volunteered her time as a Pink Lady at Baptist Memorial Hospital while in Columbus, MS. Mary was also a dedicated volunteer for Lutheran Braille Workers. She moved to Meridian in 2005 and continued her volunteerism at Trinity Lutheran Church. She especially loved to share ice cream with her great granddaughter at Baskin Robbins.
Funeral service will take place at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbus, MS on Saturday May 13 at 11:00 am with the Reverend Kenneth Boudreau officiating. Interment will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday May 12 at Memorial Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 pm . In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church P.O. Box 3460, Meridian, MS 39303, Our Savior Lutheran Church 1211 18th Ave. N. Columbus, MS 39701 or Lutheran Braille Workers P.O. Box 5000 Yucaipa, CA 92399. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.memorialfuneral.net .