Phyllis Henney, born Phyllis Sylvia Hockey Dec. 31, 1919 in Somerset County, England, died suddenly April 1, 2005. She had been a resident of Clinton since 1968 and was held dear by all who knew her. Her eyes were blue gray. Her brown hair had faded to beautiful shades of platinum white and her favorite color was blue.

Widow of Edward Lincoln Henney, born 1911 in South Dakota. In 1949 Phyllis and Ed were blessed with the birth of daughter Lorita, who died tragically at age 17, and in 1952 with son Ward, who died at age 38 due to heart failure.

Phyllis was farm born near the village of Somerton, near the town of Bridgewater, about 150 miles from London. Family papers date back (thus far) to 1650 and research traces her line back to the ancient Celtic Tribe Deurtriges. Her parents, Albert William John Hockey, originally a Propertied Farmer, and Bessie Sylvia Feltham Hockey had three children. After school Phyllis took a position as Post Woman with the (British) Royal Mail. She often recalled hearing German buzz bombs go over while delivering mail on bicycle during World War II. Phyllis met Ed while he was a U.S. Army technical sergeant. They were married in 1944 in Sturminster, Dorset County, England, south of Somserset County.

Her move to Los Angeles in 1947 to join Ed after the war changed her life considerably after spending her youth in the English countryside. Ed took a postal position in the Torrance area of the city, and they settled down in a nice house they bought. She became an American citizen in 1949. Planning for their future retirement they bought a piece of wooded land on Deer Lake Road in Clinton in 1963. They began building on their Clinton property in 1968 and Phyllis worked as hard as anyone, even helping dig out roots of the many trees and brush that had to be cleared for the house and yard.

Phyllis was an active member of the Rebekahs and Ladies’ Auxiliary of Fraternal Order of Eagles, holding high offices in both. She was an expert in knitting, and made beautiful sweaters for family as well as contributing knitted items for bazaars and other sales events of the organizations to which she belonged. One of the kindest, most warm-hearted people ever, she was perhaps best known for delicious baked goods she made, especially for her fruitcakes and cookies. She always had a smile for friends and family, and through all adversity kept a stiff upper lip worthy of royalty.

Phyllis is survived by Sootie cat, her companion of 14 years, and a huge extended family of nephews, nieces and cousins, in both the U.S and England. Many more honoring her memory than can be named here, so instead we do so as one family with various names and surnames, all remembering her lovingly.

Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 28, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church,, Clinton. Reverends Paul Benz and Mikkel Hustad presiding.