Phyllis Irene Rood Holmes, age 96 died on June 16, 2017 in peace. She will be missed by family and friends.

Phyllis was born in Goodrich, MI December 10, 1920 to Paul & Alice (Enlow) Rood.

She graduated from Covert (MI) High School in 1939 and from Michigan State University in 1943 with a Bachelor degree in Home Economics. She met George Wendall Holmes and they married in South Haven, MI on December 10, 1944. Both her first child, Cheryl A Holmes and her second, Gary W Holmes were born in Michigan.

The family moved to Chicago, IL so George could go to graduate school. During their time in Chicago their third child, Randall A Holmes was born.

The family moved to Waukegan, IL and during that time she graduated from the University of Chicago (IL), in 1971 at age of 51, with a Master degree in Social Work.

She had a diversity of professions, nursery school teacher, hospital dietitian, Girl Scout leader, home economics teacher & librarian, adoption facilitator and school social worker in Barrington, IL where she continued the work she loved for 20 years until retiring in 1991 at the age of 71. She was a strong advocate for Women's Rights which remained a passion for her throughout her life.

During her time in Illinois, she was a committed member of the North Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Deerfield, IL for 45 years. She was proud to serve as the first woman board President in 1979.

After retiring she moved to her little white home on Mill Street in Amherst, WI to be closer to her children. She was a committed member of the community, volunteering at the Lettie Jensen Library and becoming a library board member. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stevens Point, WI. She moved in 2012 to Whispering Pines Assisted Living in Plover, WI.

Phyllis enjoyed nature (particularly bird watching), reading, ballet, scientific subjects, current events, and travel. She traveled the world which included her favorite trip to China with other educators. She often traveled with her sister Shirley, creating many extraordinary memories on their Alaskan and river cruises.

She is proceeded in death by her mother Alice (Enlow-Rood) Ewers & step-father Henry Ewers; her father Paul J Rood & stepmother Edna (Anderson) Rood; brother John Rood; sisters Ann (Rood) Kloac, Charlotte (Rood) Holm, Patricia (Ewers) Richmond & Shirley (Ewers) Warfield; her son Randall A Holmes; Ex-husband George W Holmes; a close sister-in-law Polly (Holmes) Anderson.

Survivors include: daughter Cheryl A Holmes [Dan Lamers]; son Gary W Holmes [Teresa]; grandsons Christopher I Holmes [Jenny E Balisle], Ryan A Holmes; Buddy Holmes-Lamers [Stephanie]; Brothers Paul J Rood Jr, Richard Rood [Colleen] and many loved family and friends.

Many thanks from Cheryl, Gary and Teresa to the wonderfully dedicated, respectful and caring staff we count as friends at Whispering Pines in Plover, WI and to the dedicated Hospice team, especially nurse Jill, who helped us during our last few hours with Phyllis.

Phyllis, you will be missed, but you will be forever Loved.

Per Phyllis's wishes, there will be no services held.

Published in Stevens Point Journal on June 20, 2017