Phyllis Fay O’Neal, 78 of Merced, California died on October 31st, 2022, at Doctor’s Hospital in Modesto, California. Phyllis was born November 29th, 1943, in Madera, CA to Thomas Curtis and Edith La Vaughn O’Neal.
Phyllis is survived by several sisters: Mary Moffitt of Merced, Sandra Clay of Merced, Emma Roberts of Chowchilla, and Joyce Herring of Holdenville, OK. Phyllis is also survived by cousins, Jeff (Wanda) Blair and Barry (Clair) Blair of Berryhill, OK, her niece Diane (Dennis) Ray of Fresno, and godson Icio Camacho of Merced, and many other cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Remembered especially by Louisa Benhissen of Merced and originally London, U.K., who thought of Phyllis as one of her “American Mums”. Also, special remembrance by nieces Lori Pendergrass of Chowchilla and Jani Garcia of Lake Stevens, WA. Phyllis is recollected fondly by her lifelong friends, Georgia Humphrey of Elk Grove, and Mark and Dolores Ring of Merced.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Thomas Curtis and Edith La Vaughn O’Neal, sister Linda Clay and brother-in-law Jay Clay of Chowchilla, stepbrother Arthur McAninch of Holdenville, OK, and her sister Janice Kay Adcox of Merced.
Phyllis attended grammar school in Chowchilla and graduated from Chowchilla Union High School. Phyllis received her A.A. in Nursing from Fresno City College and later her master’s degree from San Francisco State University. Phyllis worked 42 years in nursing as an R.N. and loved every minute. She worked in multiple hospitals: first Clovis Hospital, then Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, followed by Lake Hospital in Yellowstone National Park, and returning to the Bay Area to work first at Ross General Hospital in Marin, then Seton Medical Center, Daly City before becoming Clinical Nursing Co-Ordinator of Home Health Care at Stanford University Hospital. Phyllis returned to the Central Valley, as Co-Ordinator of Home Care Services at Mercy Hospital, Merced until her retirement. Memorable moments in Phyllis’s nursing career include being one of the first cohort to care for AIDS patients in San Francisco. Phyllis was acknowledged with a Smithsonian Award for technology while at Stanford, for creating a Home Health Care Information System, still in use nationwide.
While living in San Francisco, Phyllis enjoyed many musicals, professional sports games, concerts, and plays. Family and friends were always treated to comprehensively planned tours in her orange, VW bus. Phyllis absolutely loved to camp, especially at Soquel, where the campsite was organized with meticulous attention as befits a nurse. Camp was watched over by a family dog as Phyllis loved to train German shepherds. Farther afield, adventures were had mountain climbing in the Tetons and rafting down five, different rivers. Phyllis loved gardening and her creative talents were prominently displayed by her holiday decorating. More sedentary activities, with many laughs and good times, were enjoyed with Phyllis’ knitting group of friends, who also miss her.
Many thanks to the entire staff at Turlock Nursing and Rehab. While at Doctor’s Hospital in Modesto, she was in the care of the Neuro and Brain unit. We could never have asked for more compassionate or better care.
Many thanks to our family, friends, and neighbors, especially Letty and Ed Sutton, for their support, prayers, and assistance during this last month.
A Graveside service will be held on Monday, November 28th, 2022, at 10:00am at Chowchilla Cemetery District, 23359 Road 14 ½, Chowchilla, California.
Services are under the directions of Palm Memorial Worden Chapel, Chowchilla, California.
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