Phyllis J. Gertz, 79, of Peoria, passed away at 4:34 a.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, at Proctor Hospital in Peoria.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2011, at Clary Funeral Home, 3004 West Lake Avenue in Peoria, with the Rev. Stan Svetich officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, September 9, 2011, also at the funeral home. Interment will be in Mt. Hawley Cemetery in Peoria.
Phyllis was born in Champaign on November 9, 1931, a daughter of Matt N. and Mella B. (Simmons) Morrow. She married Karl Gertz on June 6, 1981 in Las Vegas. He preceded her in death on February of 1991 in Tucson. She was also preceded in death by her parents, five sisters and one brother.
She is survived by her son, Raymond (Christine) Hallenstein of Cleveland; sisters, Neva Buttell and Dorothy (Rev. Stan) Svetich, all of Peoria; brothers, Joseph Morrow of Washington and Harold “Rick” (Minnie) Morrow of Mackinaw; and grandchildren, Nikki, Abbey, Carly and Mattison.
Phyllis retired as a secretary with the Tucson Police Department.
She was a member of Living Rock Assembly Church in Peoria Heights, member and past-president of the Tucson VFW Auxiliary and past member of the Tucson Eagles Lodge.
Phyllis enjoyed attending gospel jam sessions at her church and will be remembered as a good mom and sister. She was very sweet and had a good heart.
Memorial contributions may be made in Phyllis’ memory to the American Heart Association or to the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program in Peoria.
