Phyllis Joan Smith

Phyllis Joan Smith was born on April 3, 1937 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Howard Colgate and Mary Elizabeth Shoffstal. She was raised in Terre Haute, and later in San Diego, California and had two brothers, Ronald and Danny; and two half-sisters, Cindy and Carol. Phyllis was a creative child who loved her family dearly.

On March 26, 1957, Phyllis exchanged wedding vows with Lawrence O. Smith at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was devoted to Lawrence and the life they made together. She spent her years as a homemaker, putting all of her love and attention into caring for her family. She was blessed with two daughters, Deborah and Cheryl; two sons, Robert and Larry; and later with two stepsons, Richard and Ronald. She was also blessed with 13 grandchildren, Christopher, Cassandra, Kristen, Chad, Blair, Jace, Josh, Jessica, Bianca, Jenny, Richard, Ashley, and Eric; and 22 great-grandchildren. Her family was rounded out by Chips, her Maltese, whom she had for 14 years. She also had a Cavalier King named Vicky, and her Papillon Chihuahua named Venus.

Phyllis enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies, including sewing, crafting, and dry-chem. She was also a talented poet, and she had a true passion for it. Phyllis was awarded with a World of Poetry award and was even a published poet. Outside of creative arts, she also liked sports, and would watch baseball and football games whenever she got the chance. In her community, Phyllis was a member of various Christian churches, and spent time on committees with Grass Valley Thrift Store.

When it came to taking vacations, Phyllis truly enjoyed the ones where she could experience nature. Some of her favorite trips were to Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, and to Seattle, Washington. In her later years, Phyllis also found a love for playing Bingo and socializing with everyone there. She read a lot and was always keeping up with the news and what was going on in the world.

Phyllis passed away on April 24, 2023 at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is survived by her brother, Danny Dyer; daughters, Deborah McElheny and Cheryl Smith-Bell; son, Robert McElheny; grandchildren, Christopher Schindler, Cassandra Pierce, Kristen McElheny, Chad McElheny, Blair Zeno, Jace Bell, Josh Smith, Jessica Smith-Brun, Bianca Lorenz, Jenny Smith, Richard Smith Jr., Ashley Pribyl, and Eric Gwens; as well as her 22 great grandchildren. Services were held at Palm Southwest Mortuary, and she was laid to rest at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Simply stated, Phyllis was a good and kind person, who will be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. She always had open arms for everyone, and always had a “God bless” for them. She leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Phyllis Joan Smith, and she will be deeply missed.