Phyllis Jean Morris Blanchard

Phyllis Jean Morris Blanchard, 84, of Naples, Fla., passed on to be with our Lord on Sept. 18, 2014. The cause of death was cancer with which she had struggled for over two years.

Phyllis was born on Jan. 2, 1930, in Du Quoin, Ill. to John and Arline Yehling who

preceded her in death as did one daughter, Cynthia Lynn; her first husband, Gene T. Morris and a sister, Alayne Yehling Moore.

She is survived by her husband, Gene Blanchard; her daughters, Elizabeth Morris, Catherine Morris (Ted) and Patricia Hardley (Kent); three grandchildren, Ian Morris Shieh, Olivia Hardley and Jack Hardley; one sister, Joyce (Robert) McIntire and four stepchildren.

Phyllis was a graduate of the Stevens Institute of Business and Arts in St. Louis and held an administrative position with the St. Louis Medical Society before marrying Gene T. Morris on Sept. 3, 1950. Mr. Morris was a pharmacist and co-owned

Bianco Drug Store in Du Quoin, Ill. and was very active in the Shrine and political circles. Mr. and Mrs. Morris moved to Sun City Center, Fla. in 2002 where Mr. Morris passed away in 2005.

In Du Quoin, Phyllis was active in the Junior League, Domestic Science Club and in the First Presbyterian Church, where she was ordained as a deacon and an elder. She also served on the board of John A. Logan College Foundation from 1977 to 1995 and was he first woman president of the board from 1983 to 1984.

She and her husband were active in the State of Illinois Lincoln Academy which

honors an outstanding Illinois native each year. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed tennis and swimming. She also traveled extensively.

In Sun City Center, Phyllis was the president of the Simmons Lake Association. She also belonged to seven different bridge clubs in Sun City Center.

In 2009, she and Gene Blanchard rekindled a friendship which began in high school back in Illinois. In 1944, she was Gene's first date. Gene and his late wife had moved to Pelican Marsh in Naples in 2003. On June 6, 2009, Phyllis and Gene were married in Kenya, Africa near the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thirty-four native dancers performed at the ceremony. After they were married, Phyllis moved to Naples where she was active in the Pelican Marsh bridge group. She and Gene traveled on five different continents until Phyllis could no longer travel.

Phyllis was a member of the Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church in Naples, and was formerly the director of the couples bridge group at the church. When she moved to Vi at Bentley Village in Naples in 2011, she established the couples bridge group.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Sept. 26 at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, 1225 Piper Boulevard, Naples, Fla. There will also be a graveside service in Du Quoin, Ill. at a later date.

Any donations may be made to Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church for the Deacons' Charitable Fund.

A special thanks to the caregivers from Bentley Home Health who have looked after her these many months, and to Avow Hospice who guided her care in the final stages.