She was 73 years old and died May10 at Care One Harmony Village in Moorestown after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was predeceased by her father Thomas Cotton, mother Phyllis (Trovillo), and sister “Tiny” Sandoval. Survived by husband Robert Harding, sons Forrest (Colleen) and Kyle (Lawana), grandchildren Dylan, Sara, Forrest and Kylie, and many nieces and nephews. She was born in Camden and raised in Gloucester City, a varsity cheerleader in the GHS “Golden Class” of 1965, and Miss Gloucester VFW in 1964.
She graduated as an RN from the Cooper Hospital School of Nursing and later earned a BSN from Trenton State College. As an ICU/CCU nurse she worked in hospitals in Germany, Bowling Green, KY and Somerville, Bridgeton, Camden, Woodbury, and Trenton, NJ before becoming a Nurse Educator for the Mercer County (NJ) Health Occupation Center. She loved dancing, the Outer Banks, travel and camping. She quickly became an expert at any skill she set out to master, including house plants, macramé, gardening, cooking, baking, bar hopping, and smoking cigars with the guys! More than one bartender knew her as “friend”. A beautiful, caring person who provided guidance and nursing services to family and friends throughout her life, she will be missed. Funeral arrangements are private.
A Life Celebration will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s: act.alz.org/goto/PhyllisJean. Arrangements entrusted to BLAKE-DOYLE Funeral Home Collingswood, NJ. Please leave your remembrances of Phyllis at Blake-Doyle.com
