Phyllis I. Dodson Mayfield, 76, of North Platte, NE, passed away at her home on Monday, February 3, 2014, after a short battle with cancer.
Phyllis was born February 9, 1937, to Harold Alvin and Dorothea Mae Loghry Dodson at Maywood, NE where she grew up. She attended grade school in Rural School District #73 in southern Lincoln County. Phyllis graduated from high school at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis, NE in 1954 then attended the Grand Island Business College in Grand Island, NE. Phyllis moved to North Platte in the spring of 1955 and worked in the office of Sixth Street Food Store for several years.
On March 24, 1956, Phyllis married Robert “Bud” Mayfield in North Platte. They made their home in North Platte except for two years in Lexington, NE where Bud opened and managed the Sidles Auto Store and Phyllis worked in the office of the new Sixth Street Food Store. They returned to North Platte in 1960 and built their home at 3021 South Oak where they lived, raised their family and retired. Bud and Phyllis bought the Mr. Automotive Parts Store in 1978 and operated it for over 20 years before selling it; Phyllis continued to work there part-time as bookkeeper (loving every minute of it) and always looked forward to going to work.
Phyllis was baptized in the Lexington Methodist Church in 1959 then transferred to the First United Methodist Church in North Platte in 1960 and received her 50 year membership pin from there in November 2009. When their children were younger, Phyllis was an active member of the Osgood Mother’s Club, Homemakers Extension Club and was a 4-H Leader. She was also a member of the Benevolent Patriotic Order of Does since 1993, a five year Musician Officer and was nominated by the Elks as Elk Doe of the Year.
Phyllis loved music, clogging, dancing, camping and working. She loved being outdoors tending to her flowers and garden and canning foods. Phyllis especially loved being with her family and friends. She loved early mornings and living life to its fullest. Phyllis had a lot of love in her heart and hugs were most important to her–the grandkids, nieces and nephews always knew there was a hug coming when together.
Phyllis leaves behind her loving husband of 57 years, Bud, of North Platte; her daughter, Jody (Jeff) Ford, of Elkhorn, NE; two sons Rick (Yvonne) Mayfield, of Bassett, NE and Rusty (Bridget) Mayfield, of North Platte; four grandchildren, McKenzie Jo and Bill McCarter and Megan and Mark Mayfield; a great-granddaughter, Charleigh Rose McCarter; her sister, Eileen (Vernon “Sonny”) Shirley, of North Platte; a brother, Duane (Beverly) Dodson, of Maywood; sister-in-law, Mick Hoffmann, of North Platte; numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved very much; and other family and her friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Dorothea Dodson; her mother-in-law, Dorothy Vencill; her brother-in-law, Larry Hoffmann; a daughter, Joni Marie; and a son, Randy Lee.
Funeral service will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday, February 6, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Burial will follow in the Maywood Cemetery. Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday with family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Maywood Cemetery, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Callahan Cancer Center, First United Methodist Church or the donor’s choice. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.