Evelyn "Phyllis" Maas, 87 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of Orleans, Nebraska), passed away on Monday, July 19, 2010 at Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. She was born on April 23, 1923 in Crete, Nebraska the ninth of 11 children born to William True and Hattie Louverna (Fouts) Baker.

Her father was a buttermaker for Fairmont Creamery. Phyllis attended school at Crete graduating at Crete High School with the class of 1941. On September 9, 1941 she was united in marriage to Hubert George Maas and to this union six children were born: Cathy, Judy, Jean, Pat, John and Steve. The family resided in Crete, Sutton, Omaha and Lincoln until moving to Orleans in February 1947. Hubert passed away in 1994.

Phyllis was first employed at the Orleans Café as a cook and waitress and then on November 16, 1966 she was employed by Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege and continued to work there for 19 years until her retirement in 1985.

Phyllis was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Altar Society in Orleans, the BD Retirement Group, the Orleans American Legion Auxillary Post 184, the Orleans Birthday Club and past member of the Women's Extention Club.

She enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching TV and family activities. In her younger years she enjoyed bowling.

Besides her parents and husband, Hubert, Phyllis was preceded in death by three grandsons, Chad Anderson, infant Baby Lambert and Brian Lambert; sons-in-law: Al Taylor, Floy McGibney, Lavern Devorak;brothers: Stanley, Glen and Clark Baker; half-brothers: Charles L. and Neil Baker; sisters: Ruth Bowen, Mary Dymacek, Dorothy Hefflefinger, Jennie Edmonds, Marjorie Spradling, Roberta Coch and Esther Collins.

She leaves to mourn her passing her children: Cathy McGibney of Golden, Colorado, Judy Carr and her husband, Gary of Holdrege, Jean Lambert and her husband, Ellis of Holdrege, Pat Reeser and her husband, Charles of Holdrege, John Maas and his wife, Lezlie of Orleans, Steve Maas of Santa Barbara, California; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; several step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.