Phyllis M. Anderson

PHYLLIS M. ANDERSON November 15, 1925 - March 9, 2011 Phyllis M. Anderson, 85, longtime Phoenix resident, businesswoman, and civic and religious leader passed away on March 9, 2011 surrounded by her family. Phyllis was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on November 15, 1925 to William and Margaret Austin. She was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she received her R.N. degree from Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing. Phyllis moved to Phoenix in 1949 and married M.L. "Andy" Anderson in 1950. She was active in the wholesale beverage business, Anderson & Burke, Co., that her husband co-founded. She was company Chairman of the Board when the business was sold in 1988. She also served as legislative chairman of the Arizona Wholesale Beer and Liquor Association. For many years, Phyllis was active in politics and served as a Republican Precinct Committeewoman. Phyllis was actively involved in the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix for more than 40 years, serving on one of the initial committees formed to establish the diocese in 1969. She served as President of the Phoenix Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; she was a twenty-year member of the Arizona Catholic Conference holding terms as Treasurer and Secretary. She was an active board member of Catholic Community Foundation and on the CCF advisory board through this year. In 1990 she established a scholarship endowment at CCF to fund students wanting to attend Catholic high schools across the Valley. Of special note, she was one of the few women ever appointed as a member of the U.S. Catholic Bishops National Advisory Council. Phyllis was a 27-year member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and served as the Councilor of the organization in the Diocese for eight years. Phyllis will always be remembered by her wide circle of friends for her humor and sense of fun. She did not simply live life, she celebrated every moment of it. She embraced each role in life from wife and mother to businesswoman to leader in the church. Her most treasured role was that of a grandmother. Phyllis is survived by her son Tom and his wife, Terry; her grandchildren: Brian, Katie, Lindsay, and Kevin. She was preceded in death by her husband Andy and her eldest son Robert Michael. Visitation Sunday, March 13th, 2011 from 3:00-5:00 p.m., Scripture service at 4:30 p.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 East Indian School Rd. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 14th, 2011, 4715 North Central Avenue. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Catholic Community Foundation/Phyllis Anderson Scholarship Fund, 400 East Monroe St., Phx., AZ 85004; or St. Francis Xavier School building fund, 4715 North Central Avenue.

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