Phyllis Ann Baltz

Phyllis Ann Dissmore-Baltz was born March 28th, 1928 to Harold & Alta Dissmore in Portland, OR. She grew up in East Portland with her two sisters Barbara Morris (92) & Bette Becker (94). She graduated from Gresham High in 1945. Her parents owned a grocery store on SE 162nd and Division in SE Portland, where as a child she helped stock shelves and ran around the store while her parents worked. She dated her high school sweetheart Tom Baltz for 4 years, and they eventually married in 1949. She completed 2.5 years of college. They later had two sons (Jeff & Jon) and 1 daughter (Rae Ferrell). Her husband Tom died Nov. 26th, 1993 after sharing 44 years of marriage and memories. Phyllis enjoyed being a wife and mother, as well as being a secretary for the Baltz & Sons family business that sold golf equipment and installed golf courses.

Phyllis was a classy woman, and a social lite in the Gresham Community. She was often seen having luncheons around Gresham. She especially enjoyed her lunch dates with her niece Gail and sister Bette, or with her “Gopher Group,” a group of friends from her high school days. Some of her favorite local restaurants included Dea’s Inn and Out, Heidi’s, and Chu’s Chinese. In her younger years she loved traveling, with some of her favorite vacation spots being New York, Palm Springs, and the beach in Seaside, Oregon. She loved gardening, playing cards, spending time with her sister Bette, and cheering on the Portland Trailblazers. She enjoyed sunny days watching squirrels and birds who frequently visited her backyard, with her favorite birds being the hummingbird and red cardinal. She enjoyed putting together puzzles with her friend Bob, her grandson Ryan and her niece Gail.

Her strong Christian faith and family values led her to rarely missed a Sunday service at Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church in Troutdale. She looked forward to her dates with her “Mariners Group,” a group of local church friends who dined together and shared in evening desserts and games at each others homes.

Phyllis was the world’s GREATEST grandma to Andy Baltz, Alex Ferrell, Ryan Ferrell, and Melodee Baltz. GG (short for great-grandma) enjoyed watching her three great-grandchildren Drew (10), Brooklyn (8), & Dylan Baltz (6) play sports and loved spending their birthdays and the holidays with them. She passed away peacefully at the age of 88 at the Hopewell House in Portland on Nov. 21st, 2016 surrounded by her family. Phyllis Baltz touched the lives of all whom she met and left a lasting impression with her warm smile and kind heart, reminding us of all that is good in this world. The funeral will be at Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church on Wed., Nov. 30th, 2016 at 12:00. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery.