Phyllis L. Stickney, 85, a resident of Smithland passed away Sunday, December 9, 2018 peacefully with her family at her bedside. Services will be held 10:30am Friday, December 14, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Smithland IA with Pastor Karen Handke officiating.  Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City IA.  Visitation will be held Thursday, December 13, 2018 from 6-8pm at the church.  Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff.

Phyllis Lorraine Stickney was born October 31, 1933 on a farm near Santee, NE to George and Hannah (Trudell) Crosley.  She was the third born of eight children. Her parents were searching for a name and were inspired by the name they saw on a Riverboat at Yankton, SD on the Missouri River, the “Phyllis Lorraine”, and so she was named.  Phyllis attended school on the Santee Sioux Indian Reservation K-8 ^th grade.  She then moved to Sioux City to live with her Uncle Martin and Aunt Cora Trudell to attend Woodrow Wilson and graduated from Central High School in June of 1951.  She and her older sister Edna worked for Genelli Studio in Sioux City colorizing black and white photos with oil paints until 1952.  Then in 1953 she moved to Hollywood, California with her sister Edna and cousin Adele and worked as a secretary. In December of 1953 she moved back to Sioux City and married Leo F. Stickney at Grace Methodist Church in Sioux City, IA on January 29, 1954. They made their home northeast of Smithland, IA on a farm and began their life, raising four children.  She worked hard as a farm wife taking care of all that the farm produced, fresh milk, cream, churned butter, butchered chickens every year, eggs, canning garden produce and endless cooking for kids, hired men and anyone who would stop in to visit.

Phyllis was a 64 year member of the Smithland United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women’s Assoc., a Sunday School Teacher, loved to sing soprano in the choir, Bible Study and helped in all functions of the church. She was also a Life Member of the Order of the Eastern Star Loess Hills Chapter #502.

She had many hobbies. She continued to colorize pictures for Genelli Studio until they started photographing in color, sewed clothes for her girls, belonged to a local quilting group, crocheted quilts especially baby quilts, loved to cook, had a BIG garden, and a member of the “Loess Hills Red Hat Mamma’s” Red Hat Society. A particular hobby she loved for many years was bowling mixed league with Leo and women’s league with her daughter until around 2008.  After Leo retired from farming, they did a lot of traveling with their lifelong Shrine friends, vacationing and she especially loved to go back to Santee & Niobrara, NE to visit her family.

Phyllis also loved to read books and there was always music in the home. After they retired, she took up oil painting landscapes, floral, birds and other scenes and wished she had started earlier. But she felt her greatest accomplishment and her legacy were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She adored them all.  Phyllis was greatly admired. And not just by her family- by others, too. She was a wife totally in love with her husband until their parting. She was a Mother totally in love with her family and was thoroughly prepared to show her love by giving all and asking little.  She was highly valued, greatly respected, a rich and treasured gift from God.  She may have done many other things in her life on earth that were productive and meaningful, but none will be as admired as much as being the beautiful mother and wife she was.

Survivors include  a son Larry and his wife Suzanne Stickney of Sgt. Bluff, IA; a daughter Kay and husband Mark Till of Smithland, IA; a son Brian and wife Brenda Stickney of Smithland, IA; a daughter Lisa and husband Robert Rucker of Cedar Park, TX; eight grandchildren, Weston and wife Kayla Till and their children Cambree and Asher; Aaron and wife Jerica Stickney and their children Cayden, Blake, and Liam; Renee and husband Matt McDonald and their children Rylee, Colton and Aiden; Sarah and husband Craig Timmerman and their children Rowan, Luna and Tamber;  Ben Stickney;  Lyle Stickney; Hannah Rucker; and William Rucker;  brother John and wife Mary Crosley; brother Carl and wife Elaine Crosley; sister Betty Warren; brother Robert and wife Linda Crosley; sister Gloria and husband Roland Kluender; sister Carol and husband Bob Workman and numerous nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Leo F. Stickney; her parents, George and Hannah (Trudell) Crosley; father-in-law and mother-in-law Frank and Ida Stickney; sister Edna Warren; brother-in-law Norman and wife Lois Stickney; Sister-in-law Elaine and husband Earle Hammer; brother-in-law Dale Warren; nephew Alan Stickney; niece Denise Stickney; nephew Jack Crosley.

The Family would like to thank the caring hands and hearts from Maple Heights at Mapleton.