Phyllis B. Matthews

Phyllis B. Matthews, 84, of Conway, SC and formerly of Lancaster, MA, passed away November 5, 2008.

She was born on March 31, 1924 in Lancaster, MA to the late Theodore and Lilla Brodmerkle. Phyllis was a 1942 graduate of Lancaster High School where she was the Class President and Salutatorian. She then attended Memorial Hospital School of Nursing where she received her RN degree in 1946. Phyllis also received her Associates Degree from Simmons College in Boston, MA in 1955. After working in the Lancaster School as well as the town nurse, she retired in 1992.

Phyllis enjoyed shopping, gardening, bingo and card parties, trying new restaurants, word search puzzles but most of all, doting on her two grandchildren. Having been a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Clinton, MA, she most recently was a member of the Jamestown Baptist Church in Conway, SC. Other memberships included the Salvation Army, W.H.E.A.T. and Senior Citizens Alert.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Matthews in 1973; brothers, Earl, Howard, Bill and Warren and sisters, Ruth and Mildred. Survivors include daughter, Susan Kirkpatrick; grandchildren, Harry and Jane Kirkpatrick all of Lancaster, MA; brothers, Alden Brodmerkle of Lancaster, MA and Donald Brodmerkle of Sterling, MA; sister, Norma Hayes of Conway, SC, with whom she lived, and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM in the First Church of Christ Unitarian, 725 Main Street, Lancaster, MA 01523. The family request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be directed to the Salvation Army, 147 Berkley Street, Boston, MA 02116-5197 (Lancaster, MA Division). Local arrangements entrusted to Leppert Mortuary and Crematory, Indianapolis, IN.