Flora Ethol Phelps

1922 - 2025

Flora E. Phelps, at 102 years old, moved into her heavenly home on February 5, 2025, from Brigham Assisted Living, under the loving care of Heartland Hospice.
Flora (Ethol) was born July 23, 1922, on the family farm north of Stanton, which has been in the family over 120 years. She was the middle daughter of John Burton and Flora (Hutchinson) Henry. Being raised on a farm gave her a great work ethic. She attended the Hemmingway Country School, graduated in 1940 from the Stanton Rural Agricultural High School, and the last surviving member of her class.
Ethol married Max L. Phelps on September 19, 1940, blessed with nearly 72 years of marriage, until his death in 2012. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sisters; Norma Jean Rasmussen and Eunice Larsen. She is survived by her son; Keith H. Phelps, granddaughter; Tamela L (Robert) Sweeris, grandson; Kevin S (Julie) Phelps, great-granddaughters; Faylyn Emma and Makayla (Nathaniel) Brown, great-grandsons; Mitchell Sweeris and Benjamin Phelps, great-great-grandson; Levi Brown, and great-great-granddaughter; Zoee Brown.
Her second family was her church family. Ethol was the last living charter member of the 1952 Trinity Evangelical Free Church of Stanton, when it was a real fundamental church. She served the church in many ways throughout the years, picking up kids for Sunday School, Awana Club, and many other activities. Traveling Ministers and missionaries would frequently be guests at the farm. She was a faithful prayer warrior on the prayer chain at the church. For many years, she supplied the flowers for nearly every Sunday morning service, took flowers to shut-ins and those friends in the hospitals, even supplied flowers for many weddings. Ethol and Max made several trips to Haiti and Aruba to work with the missionaries building a school, homes, and a hospital. Max was a builder, and they spent several years working on Indian Reservations in Arizona and New Mexico. She was on the Missionary Committee, and a very generous giver to many missionary groups. They were able to tour the Holy Lands and Europe.
Like many others during World War II, she began working outside the home while her husband served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. Ethol went to work at Federal Mogul Corp in Greenville, where she retired in 1987 after nearly 44 years.
Several years ago, she was runner-up for Volunteer of the Year for Michigan. Right up to the end, she was a somewhat active member in the Greenville Garden Club, Master Gardeners, Heritage Village, Gleaners, Red Hats, and Gideon's. She had Master status in Master Gardening, with 1,182 hours of education and 2,936 hours of volunteer work. She received much of her training from Michigan State. Flora (Ethol) had many highlights in her lifetime, the most current being the 2016 Grand Marshall of Stanton's Old Fashioned Days. Flora Ethol left this earth with a legacy of faith, giving, volunteering, caring, listening, and consoling those in need.
Special thanks to all of those that helpedher to some of these events, like Margret Rush, Lucy Hubbard, and Master Gardening members. Also, a special thank you to the former church members, the John and Mary Ann Crooks family, for treating both Max and Flora with such a loving Christian friendship.
When the Church was chartered in the Montcalm Hotel in 1952, it was a fundamental Church that preached the plan of Salvation every Sunday (John 3:16, Romans 6:23). Today, Cancel Culture has made that non-existent. Her lifelong dream, repeated several times, was that the plan of Salvation would be presented at her funeral (Psalm 49:15).
If someone is inclined to make a memorial contribution, they can be made to Heritage Village, Greenville Garden Club, Master Gardeners at the Lakeview Baptist Church, or Brigham Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 10 to 12 p.m., with Service at Noon on February 11, 2025, at the Lakeview Baptist Church (9580 HC-Edmore Rd., Lakeview.
Thanks to Brigham Funeral Chapel for professionally making all of the arrangements.
Go to www.brighamfuneralchapel.com to read the full obituary.