Doris Morgan Phillips

She was born May 11, 1913 in Hiteman, IA to Andrew Young and Hannah (Jamieson) Morgan. She married Glen Phillips on November 20, 1932, and they had two children, Glen “Whitey” Phillips and Judith Peake Concklin.

She is survived by her daughter, Judith and her son-in-law, Tom Concklin of Burr Ridge and seven grandchildren, Patricia Whitley, Cherie Peake James, Cindy Peake Spartz, Peg Phillips, Steven Peake, David Peake, Michael “Larry” Marshall, and sixteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband on August 11, 1991 in Pekin; her son, Whitey Phillips; her grandson, Scott Lee Phillips; six sisters and three brothers.

Doris worked at Pekin Community High School managing the Dragon’s Den from 1950 to 1975. She was commonly referred to as “Phil” by the students, whom she enjoyed tremendously. She especially loved children, dogs, and singing. In her youth, she was a solo singer of note, performing weekly at public events. She was also a member of various choirs over her lifetime.

Doris liked to tell everyone she was 1/2 English and 1/2 Scotch-Welsh. Her mother was born in Egerton, England and came to the States as a toddler. Her father of Scotch-Welsh decent, was born in Youngstown, Ohio during his family’s migration to Iowa. Her father was a coal miner, and her mother was a “saint”.

She loved to laugh and tell tales of her adventures with her best friend, Edith Chamerlain Clark. They roamed the woods and the countryside of Iowa, enjoying bird-watching and swimming in the reservoir.

Doris was a beautiful woman known for her gracious and pleasant demeanor. She could not imagine her life without music, laughter, and crossword puzzles: a few of the things she believed “keep us afloat”. Music and laughter will both be less joyful without her. She will be greatly missed by her family and her friends.

Her funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, September 21, 2013 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. The Rev. Michael Brown will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Peoria Rescue Ministries, P.O. Box 837, Peoria, IL 61652-0837 or to the Home Sweet Home Ministries, 303 East Oakland Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com