Phyllis Ross

1934 - 2023

GEORGETOWN - Phyllis Elaine Ross, 88, lifelong resident of Georgetown, peacefully passed away at 5:04 p.m. Wednesday (April 12, 2023) at OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center, Danville.

Her birthday was easily remembered, as she was born on Oct. 31, 1934, in Georgetown, to George Herbert and Frances Lucille (Galyen) Hughes, both deceased. Phyllis married James Norman Ross on March 22, 1963, until his passing on March 22, 2017.

She is survived by her children, Cathy (Jeremiah) Christian of Georgetown, James Scott (Lori) Ross of Arnold, Mo., Roy (Kelly) Ross of Goreville, Terry Mills of Georgetown and Dr. Michael (Tracey) Mills of Nixa, Mo.; daughter-in-law, Yvonne Mills of Charleston, S.C.; grandchildren, Luke, Karen, Jim, Josh, Justin, Jessica, Candice, Sydney, Brett, Kristin, Jacob, Kaleb, Abigail and Clayton; many great-grandchildren; her siblings, Janice Jones, Marsha (Ted) Byerly of Tilton, Stephen (Donna) Hughes of Georgetown, Rodney (Sarah) Hughes of Georgetown and Greg (Rhonda) Hughes of Bismarck; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Hughes of Georgetown, Judy Hughes of Georgetown and Clara Pitts of Paris, Ill.; aunt, Betty Richards; and extended family too numerous to list.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herb and Lucille Hughes; son, Brian Mills; daughters-in-law, Becky Mills and Debbie Mills; and siblings, Marilyn Henschen, Dennis Hughes and Larry Hughes.

Phyllis graduated from Georgetown High School in 1953. She and Norman raised their sons and daughter in Georgetown and attended First Church of Christ. When asked about raising such a large family, she always said she remembers cleaning, cooking, then repeat. She loved to have her big Hughes family (and all others) over for many holiday parties, especially Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas, on 14th Street. She and her sisters were close as they could be and always found time to talk to each other, even when getting together in person was impossible, thanks to technology. Her family was her world, and her grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she was never slow to talk about their accomplishments and lives. Later in life, she made good friends at Autumn Fields in Tilton and enjoyed traveling to visit her sons who endlessly entertained her. Phyllis will be fondly remembered for her good-natured humor and her ability to love life, laugh at the teasing she received, as well as being the enduring demonstration of love for family.

A celebration of Phyllis' life will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 21, at Sunset's Houghton-Leasure Funeral Home, 200 E. West St., Georgetown, IL 61846, with Pastor James Blue officiating, with a special contribution by her son the Rev. Dr. Michael Mills. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday prior to her service at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Forest Park Cemetery, Georgetown.

Memorial donations may be given in her name to the donor's choice of charity. Please join her family in sharing memories, photos and videos through her tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.