Phyllis Reynolds, 89

Phyllis Reynolds, 89, a retired teacher and homemaker from Sunburst, passed away July 20, 2010, at the Marias Care Center from natural causes. A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at the Sunburst Methodist Church. Inurnment will be in the Lonepine Cemetery at a later date. Whitted Funeral Chapel of Shelby is in charge of arrangements. Phyllis was born March 24, 1921, in Kalispell, Flathead County, to John C. McCoy and Ethel Pearl (Mountjoy) McCoy. She grew up on her parents homestead at Lonepine, and graduated from Lonepine High School in 1938. Phyllis then attended and graduated from Montana State University-Bozeman in 1943 with a bachelor s degree in home economics. Phyllis and Lester Charlton Reynolds were married on June 15, 1947, at her parents home in Lonepine. Phyllis taught home economics and English at the Thompson Falls Schools after graduation from MSU. She then moved to Twin Bridges, where she taught at the high school and was an active member of the Ruby Valley Methodist Church until 1968, when the family moved to Columbia Falls for their retirement. In 1993, she and her husband moved to Hot Springs where they lived until 2000, then moved to Helena to be closer to their children. In 2005, Phyllis moved to Sunburst where she continued to live with her daughter, Peggy, and son-in-law, Mike Tobin. At the time of her death, Phyllis was a member of the Sunburst Methodist Church. Phyllis loved to cook and collected recipes and cookbooks which she read the way most folks would read a novel. She was famous for her Parker House rolls which were requested for all family gatherings and potlucks. She was involved in Ladies Aid, United Methodist Women, Christian Women United and various other organizations, including a lifetime membership still in good standing of the Stitch and Bitch Club which she helped form while living in Columbia Falls. Phyllis was a devoted wife, mom and granny and we will miss her amazing strength, giving nature and sense of humor. She was a gracious hostess and a true lady. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Lester C. Reynolds; her parents, John C. McCoy and Ethel P. Mountjoy-McCoy of Lonepine; and a brother, Robert C. Reynolds, in 1926. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Peggy J., and Michael J. Tobin of Sunburst; sons, Steven C. and Karen M. Reynolds of Butte, and Richard A. Reynolds, D.C, of Great Falls; granddaughters, Michelle J. Huck and Shaun of Spokane Valley, Wash., and Meghan J. Barnes and Travis of Surprise, Ariz.; grandson, Jason C. Reynolds, of Missoula; her brother, Alan J., and Sophie McCoy; her sister, Shirley J. Kontos, of Hot Springs; sister-in-law, Lucille Reynolds, of Columbia Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, 816 Ninth St. S. Great Falls, MT, 59405; or the John C. McCoy Scholarship Fund, c/o Alan McCoy, 2700 Hwy. 28, Lonepine, MT 59848. Condolences may be posted at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.