Phyllis C. Peck

Phyllis Christine (Rainwater) Peck, age 75 years, was born on Oct. 17, 1934 to James and Mary Louise Rainwater in Portageville, Mo. and passed away on Nov. 20, 2009 at her home in Poplar Bluff, Mo., where she and her husband, E. Lee Peck, resided for the past five years.

Phyllis was the oldest of seven children and spent her childhood in Missouri and Michigan. She was active in school serving as senior class President and captain of the basketball and field hockey teams in Montrose, Mich.

Phyllis entered into marriage with E. Lee Peck on June 15, 1953 and to this union six children were born: Angela (Leroy) James of Poplar Bluff, Diana (Ronald) Brittain of Dexter, Pamela (Terry) Williams of Jackson, Joyce (Kevin) Smith of Campbell, Douglas (Pam Cosby) Peck of Greenville and Melissa (Justin) Will of Prior Lake, Minn.

Phyllis was active in every church she attended and loved being involved in many organizations such as the Women's Missionary Society and the Navy Wives. She was fearless in life, successfully participating as an educator, retailer, bookkeeper, human resource manager, in manufacturing, the banking industry in real estate but most of all as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Phyllis had ten grandsons, Jarrot Lee Ward, Jeremiah Ward, Paul Josh Ward, Ronald Brittain, Jr., Ethan Cosby, Jonathan Brittain, Seth Williams, Luke Williams, Shane Will and Spencer Will; ten granddaughters, Questa Ward, Kelly James-Penot, Alexis James, Jessica Cosby, Samantha Smith Rhine, Lauren Williams, Miranda Shields, Hannah Williams, Shelby Will and Sadie Will; and four great-grandsons, Trenton Rhine, Jarrot Lee Ward, Jr., Zachary Ward and Colton Rhine.

Phyllis is also survived by her brothers: James, David and Dennis Rainwater; and sisters: Sandra Hutchinson, Glenda Sue Rainwater and Carol Walker. Those who counted her as a sister, (her sister-in-laws) Thelma Williams, Charles and Archa Peck, Ronald and Lavonna Meir, and Dennis and Brenda Meier; and a host of nephews and nieces.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, three brother-in-laws, Robert Robbins, Ray Vineyard and Mack Williams; two sister-in-laws, Glenda Robbins and Evelyn Vineyard; a son-in-law, Frankie Ward and a granddaughter, Questa Ward.

Visitation will be held Monday, Nov. 23rd from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; funeral Tuesday, Nov. 24th 11 a.m. at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. Burial will be Tuesday in Bloomfield, Mo. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at 1 p.m.