Elizabeth Ann Phares

Dr. Elizabeth Ann Phares, affectionately known as EA, of Wichita, KS, joined the heavenly choir on March 11, 2023. After beating cancer twice and fighting Lewy Body Dementia her last several years of life, the Lord needed a soprano and pianist and called her to join Him.

EA was born on October 24, 1946, to Henry (Happy) and Thelma Herrill, nine months, two days and 43 minutes after Hap returned home from World War II, to Garnett, KS. There she grew up on a farm with no indoor plumbing (which she liked to remind her daughters throughout their teenage years) and attended a two-room schoolhouse. When she was five, her brother Calvin was born and at ten her parents finally gave her baby Helen, her very own Dolly. EA was active in 4H and won awards for pie baking and showing her pig, Snickelfritz. Easily the prettiest girl in Garnett, EA modeled for Sid Simmons and was in the Miss Garnett pageant. After High School, EA obtained her Bachelor's' in Education from Emporia University, Masters in Divinity at Central Baptist Seminary and her Doctorate in Adult Christian Education from Kansas State University.

Amidst reaching her educational goals, EA met and married Allen Pratt and tried for years to have a child. After ten years and a phone call from Dr. Julias in Ottawa, KS, EA had her baby - a three-day-old gift she named Staci Elizabeth. Three and a half years later, out popped a little miracle who EA said was an angel. They named her Angela.

EA and her girls spent their years in Omaha, NE and Bella Vista, AR after her divorce. Together they laughed, sang, played the piano, read, ate pizza, made ridiculously posed pictures, argued, painted, survived cancer, teenage years, divorce, and moved back to Kansas. Throughout her adult life, EA was a pastor, painter, insurance agent, massage therapist, college professor and retired as a Dean of Students.

In 2003, she met a Chemistry professor, who thought she was beautiful and in 2004 she and Timothy Phares were married. The marriage not only brought her new love, but an expanded family, with Tim's daughter Amy.

After EA retired she spent her time travelling the world with Tim, playing piano, sewing, quilting, watching Perry Mason reruns, drinking coffee, playing with cats and loving her children and grandchildren.

EA was preceded in death by her father, mother and other precious family members. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Staci & Shawn Wheat, Angela & Dan Webster and Amy & Shaun Conway; grandchildren: Ben, Elizabeth, Morgan, Clark and Alex. Her sister, brother and their families, countless friends, colleagues and acquaintances and the most life changing partner, caretaker, confidant, and friend we could have asked for her to have, her husband Tim.

Services will be held at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1550 N. Chapel Hill St., Wichita, KS, on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.. Friends and family may choose to attend a viewing at the church before, from 10:00-10:30 a.m..

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Harry Hynes Hospice, two organizations near to EA's heart.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Phares family.