Phyllis J. Glazier

She was born on August 7, 1952, in Morrison, Illinois, to Joyce (Broers) and Gordon Bennett. She married Stanley K. Glazier on August 19, 1972. He survives. Also surviving are her father, Gordon Bennett of Lyndon, Illinois; two sisters, Susan (Tom) Walatka of Davenport, Iowa, and Gloria Verhulst of Lyndon, Illinois; one brother, Dale (Bonnie) Bennett of Orion, Missouri; two sons, Joshua (Andrea) Glazier of Bloomington, Illinois, and Jonathan Glazier of Peoria, Illinois; one daughter, Stacy (Ron) Crabtree of Peoria, Illinois; five grandsons; 11 nieces and nephews; and countless others who considered her a “second mom.” Her mother, Joyce Bennett, of Prophetstown, Illinois, preceded her in death.

Phyllis graduated valedictorian from Prophetstown High School in 1970. She received her Bachelor’s degree in education from Illinois State University in 1973, and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Bradley University in 2004. For ten years, Phyllis taught and coached at Georgetowne Middle School in Marquette Heights, Illinois. While at Georgetowne, she created and directed a student assistance program to help students in the areas of decision making and conflict. Continuing her passion to help at-risk youth, Phyllis served as a juvenile probation officer in Woodford County for three years, during which time she also developed and taught a curriculum for parents on parenting challenging teens. In 2002, Phyllis transitioned to work as an alternative school teacher, and subsequently served as director of the Marshall-Putnam-Woodford Regional Safe School Program for eight years. In 2012, she was appointed as the Regional Superintendent of Schools for Marshall, Putnam and Woodford Counties until she retired in 2017. Phyllis was known for her passion and enthusiasm. Her peers described her as a true advocate for connecting students to learning and finding resources at any cost to find a student a second chance.

More than her career achievements, Phyllis’s greatest gifts were her large heart and caring nature for all that made her acquaintance. Phyllis loved Jesus and loved to study the Bible, both in private and in fellowship. Phyllis loved to spend time with her friends and family, especially her grandsons. Whether it was playing with toy cars, fishing, paintball, or shooting hoops, she was up for anything that meant time with her family. Phyllis and Stan were the #1 fans of her son’s bands, Yellow Madman and Chasing Rachel, following the bands wherever they performed. Following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease in 2008, Phyllis developed a love for boxing thanks to Rock Steady Boxing, a nonprofit dedicated to giving people with Parkinson’s disease hope by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing based fitness curriculum. Phyllis’s boxing colleagues coined her “The Terminator.”

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Rock Steady Boxing Peoria.