Phyllis Hughes
Age - 91
September 27, 2023
Phyllis Anne (Scott) Hughes, born to Edgar and Inez (Royer) Scott, February 7, 1932, passed away peacefully at Majestic Care, formerly known as Garden Villa in Bloomington, IN on September 21, 2023. She was the 3rd of 6 children and attended 9 different schools in her 12 years of school. As the child of a school teacher and basketball coach her family moved often which matched well with her gifts to cheer others on and make friends easily. She graduated from high school in Union Mills, IN in 1950, and attended the South Bend College of Commerce, receiving a diploma in July of 1951. However, it was in Monon, Indiana in 1947 where she met her life-long sweetheart, Richard "Dick" Hughes. She walked into band class on her first day and into the baritone section where Dick was using the band's only baritone. He was charmed by her instantly and quickly asked the band director if he could have the band parents buy another baritone so he could "help" Phyllis. The two soon sat together in choir. She had a beautiful voice and could hear any tune and harmonize along. Later dad discovered that she could also dance to Big Band Music and do the jitterbug. They had their first date that same year on December 19. They married September 16, 1951 and every year thereafter they celebrated both their first date and wedding anniversaries. They lived in Bloomington, IN while dad finished his Indiana University undergraduate degree mom worked at Sarkes Tarzian. In 1964, they purchased the local hardware store working together to operate Hughes Hardware for the next 10 years while their children were growing up. In 1974, they relocated to Terre Haute, IN. Mom worked at MAB Paints as a manufacturing secretary and later they work together in their own insurance agency, Center Insurance. Mom was the member of the Monon Methodist Church, Terre Haute United Methodist Temple and First United Methodist Church in Bloomington, IN. She also was a member of Tri Kappa, the Lioness Club, Christian Business Women and was always participating in a Bible study group. If she was a member of an organization, club or church, she was also a trusted volunteer where she held any office asked of her and did all with a keen eye to detail and a smile on her face. She sang in every church choir from 1955 until roughly 2017. It was that last choir at the First United Methodist Church that she and dad considered it the heavenly choir on earth. Mom sang also in barbershop quartets, choruses and the Terre Haute Symphony Chorus. But her duet partner dad was her most frequent singing partner. They sang in church, weddings and funerals. There was never a stage too small for them to strike up a song for an audience. Their last song sung most frequently was the Sammy Song. Besides singing mom was a hostess extraordinaire and a great cook. She enjoyed sewing, painting, upholstering furniture, hanging wallpaper and small and large carpentry projects. She installed an upstairs bathroom and large walk-in closet in their bedroom area in Monon. One year with Barry's help she remodeled our large garage and made it into a gathering space where many slumber parties and family events were held. Mom was preceded in death by dad, in January, 2021, daughter, Leticia "Tish" Miller Scott; grandson Adam Hughes and great granddaughter, Alyson Thurston; her parents; in-laws, Carl and Marie Hughes; brothers, Jerry, Jack and Lincoln Scott; sisters in law, Jean Scott and Pat Scott; sister in law and brother in law, Mary Jane and John Toumine; brother in law, John Jerrell Hughes; sister in law, Suzanne Rankin Hughes Pinette. She is survived by her two children, Barry Hughes (Janet) and Chris Taylor (Vince); grandchildren, Heather Harris (Josh), Ashlee Hamski (Matthew), Charles Miller (Christi), Andy Miller (Katie), Andrea Bishop (Jerry Isles), Sheila Phegley (John),), Aryah Thurston, Courtney Payne-Taylor and Vincent Taylor II (Kim); great grandchildren, Claudia McCall, Olivia Torres, Alania Moore; Charlie Miller Jr. , Chloe Otto; Dylan Williams, Hudson and Tucker Harris, Nolan and Jovie Hamski, Dylan and Abbie Thurston and Jackson Taylor. her brother, William E. Scott; sister, Diana Tabert (Ray), sister in law, Suzy Scott; And many nieces and nephews who cherished her. The service and joint celebration of life for both dad and mom will be at Chandler Funeral Home, 203 East Temperance Street, Ellettsville, IN 47429 on Friday, September 29, 2023. Visitation will be from 11:00 a. m. - 1:00 p. m. with the celebration at 1:00 p. m. Pastor Deron Colgan from the Bloomington Free Methodist Church will officiate. Phyllis and Richard will be interned in Grandview Cemetery in Terre Haute, IN. A graveside service will be held at a later date. The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff at Majestic Care, to all the staff who either lead a team or had their own hands on the care and comfort of both our parents. You each were a blessing to mom and dad and to us, knowing they were in competent, loving hands every day. Donations may be made to the Terre Haute Methodist Temple, 5301 S. U. S. 41, Terre Haute, IN 47433. Show more
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