Phyllis Marie Trusty

Phyllis Marie Trusty (neé Sweeney) of Knoxville passed away February 19, 2016 at the age of 88. She was the wife of Dr. Francis M. Trusty for 63 years, the loving mother of Bob (Nancy) Trusty of Atlanta, Joan (Scott) Moore of Birmingham, MI, and David (Janet) Trusty of Charlotte, and loving host mother of Karl (Martina) Kaluza of Munster, Germany. She was the proud grandmother of Ryan, Drew, Meredith, Meghan and Paige. She is survived by her sister Barbara Fanger of Portland, OR and her brother Sam (Nancy) Sweeney of Dayton, OR. Born in McMinnville, Oregon, Phyllis graduated from Oregon State College with a degree in Home Economics, and taught high school home economics in Oregon. Following several years in each of Palo Alto, CA, Chicago and Rochester, NY, Phyllis and her family moved to Tennessee in 1967. In 1987, Phyllis taught English in Bangkok, Thailand. She loved to embroider, quilt, cook, swim, grow roses and travel internationally. Phyllis enjoyed sailing as part of the Concord Yacht Club. She was known for her apple pie, the recipe for which was closely guarded, and she made one especially for her children and grandchildren on Christmas Day in 2014. She remained physically active at the West Side Family YMCA. Her happiest moments at the Shannondale Retirement Center were spent at the “Happy Table” in the dining room - moments she always talked about and treasured greatly. A consummate volunteer, Phyllis always found time to share her many gifts and talents with others. In addition to holding many other offices, Phyllis served as President of the UT Faculty Women’s Club, President of the “Pink Ladies” volunteer group at UT Hospital, Chairman of Knox County Heart Association, President of PEO (Chapter AH), President of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America (Knoxville Chapter) and Secretary of the EGA Regional Board, District Representative for American Field Service (Knoxville area), and President of the Bearden High School PTSO. She was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville. The family wishes to extend their thanks to the nurses and caregivers on the second floor of the Shannondale Health Care Center. Memorials may be made to the P.E.O. Scholar Award, P.E.O. International, 3700 Grand Ave. , Des Moines, Iowa 50312 (note “memorial for Phyllis Trusty, Chapter AH/TN”), or to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, NY, NY 10018. Memorial services will be held at Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, 7234 Middlebrook Pike (corner of Middlebrook and Vanosdale), Knoxville, on Saturday, March 19, at 1:00 pm.