Phyllis Evelyn Figard, 93, passed on Nov. 12, 2015, at Pioneer Memorial Rest Home.
Phyllis Evelyn Figard was born on Sept. 11, 1922, to Walter and Catherine Nutter in Sabula, Iowa. They lived in Iowa and Kansas before setting in Thomas County.
After graduating from high school, she married Erle “Gob” Figard on April 19, 1941.
Gob went in the service, and she followed him to Texas and then California. While there, she worked for Lockheed Aviation in Pasadena, where the Rose Parade was, but it was the year they didn’t have one. She was so disappointed. She qualified to be a Rosy the Riveter but never got her certificate. She also loved going to see pro wrestling bouts with her sister-in-law, Laverne. Who would have thunk.
After the service years, they settled on the ranch south of Thedford on the Dismal River. They had four children.
When she wasn’t taking care of the kids and Gob, rattlesnake killing, gardening, canning, coyote hunting with Lois or picking chokecherries and making jelly, she worked as a clerk at the sale barn. She also clerked at some auctions. That might be where she got the love of going to auctions and garage sales. The Figard brothers bought the Star Theater and she and Gob tried running the cafe for while, but decided a beauty shop would be a better deal.
When Gob got the sheriff job, they moved to town and lived in Lynch’s Drug Store. She became a more social person, living in town and playing pitch a couple times a week. She thought she needed to take care of feeding the townspeople, especially with dilly bread. She loved making popcorn balls to give at Halloween. She would have a few older-than-normal trick-or-treaters show up. She also would take canoers out to their drop-off points.
She was a permanent member of the Legion Auxiliary. She never knew a stranger.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Coyla Nutter; brother, Russ Nutter; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Gene Krause; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Grant and Lois Figard; half-brother, Walt Nutter; half-sister, Lois Gibson; son-in-law, Gar Holbrook; grandson, Bernie Andersen; and stepgrandson, John Holbrook.
She is survived by her children, Diane (Allen) Andersen and family, Dean Figard and family, Deb Figard, and Denise (Joe) Hoesing and family; sister, Joyce (Duane) Molley and family; sister-in-law, Wanda (Leonard) Mackley and family; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Legion Auxiliary, United Church of Christ or the donor’s choice.
Services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Thedford. Refreshments will follow at the Legion Hall. Mullen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.