A graveside service was held Friday at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella for Phyliss Jean Stowers, 82. She died Feb. 22, 2010 in Reno.

Born March 25, 1927 in Blackwell, Okla., Phyliss came to California when she was 19. She married and moved to Oregon where she raised four children. She returned to California in 1965 and worked as an AT&T telephone operator. She remarried in 1979 and later retired after 30 plus years. She lived in Oakdale for many years and then in Ceres for a short time. Mrs. Stowers enjoyed traveling, spending time with friends and family, listening to music, dancing, reading, camping, gardening, sewing, playing cards, and spending time at the beach.

She leaves behind her children, Don Stump, Tom Stump, Marc Stump and Barbie Holt; her stepson, Earl Stowers; her half-brother, Carl Baker; her half-sister, Barbara Smith; and 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years Robert Stowers, her parents and her brother.

-Ceres Courier /March 10, 2010