Phyllis Lucille (Mead) Stinnette

Phyllis Lucille (Mead) Stinnette was born to Russell and Anna (Hall) Mead on June 12, 1922 in a two-room house Southwest of Champion, Nebraska. She passed away on Sept. 8, 2023 at Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 101.
She was the second of six children of Russell and Anna Hall Mead. She attended kindergarten through 10th grade at the Champion grade and high school. She and her two brothers and one sister rode horses the 3¼ miles to school when she was in the 6th grade, the only year in which she did not miss a day of school. In 1938 she, along with her mother, two sisters and one brother moved to Imperial so she could attend the rest of her high school. In 1939 her Dad and younger brother moved to Imperial. Phyllis graduated with high honors and, after working in a café for a short while, taught school for five years in Chase and Dundy counties.
In 1936 she joined the Presbyterian Church in Champion and then joined the Evangelical Church in Imperial (which later united with the Methodist Church). She was pianist at the Evangelical Church for several years and also taught Sunday School.
On July 20, 1947 she was united in marriage to Francis Stinnette of rural Wauneta. They made their home for a short time in Imperial and then moved to a farm east of Imperial. They were blessed with three children, Bing, Kelly and Becky.
In June of 1958 the family moved to a farm three miles north of where they were and did some custom farming along with their own. Phyllis raised chickens and dressed and sold many, as well as selling eggs directly to Denver. Phyllis took to farrowing out 29 sows and selling the pigs either locally or at McCook (she loved pigs!). She enjoyed sewing as a hobby and made many decorated western shirts for her husband and two sons as well as other items. Her hobbies included crocheting and knitting many items, some of which she gave to friends.
Due to hard times, Phyllis and Francis had to sell their farm equipment and other personal items. They moved to Indianola where Francis worked for MIC and Phyllis continued selling pigs and raised a big garden. Her yard was her pride and joy. She also did, Property Reevaluation in Indianola for the County Assessor’s office; worked at a clothing store for several years at Stritt Hardware store until it closed in 1987.
She and Francis moved to an acreage west of Indianola in 1978, where she continued to live with Kelly after her husband passed away.
Phyllis always put family ahead of herself.
In 1974 she took up quilting, and made 61 quilts along with several wall hangings. Her stitches were always perfect, and she received many purple and blue ribbons at the fair.
Phyllis quilted with the Methodist Church ladies in McCook for several years, with all proceeds going to the church.
She loved the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, and would listen to them on the transistor radio while building fence or other jobs on the farm. Phyllis was a Huskers fan to the end, and may have listened to or watched more games than any other person.
She moved to El Dorado Manor in Trenton in 2009 due to Parkinson’s Disease, and lived there until her death.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Francis in 1993, an infant brother, as well as three brothers and a sister.
She is survived by her sons, Bing (Carlene) and Kelly; her daughter, Becky; her sister Carol (Frank) Medsker of Hastings; many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. (MT) Monday, Sept. 18, 2023 at Imperial Methodist Church in Imperial with Rev. Brian Loy officiating. Visitation to be held one hour prior. Interment to follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Methodist Church of Imperial or the American Heart Association.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
Liewer Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.