Phyllis Jean (Rust) Arthur was born July 11, 1931, to Ewing and Daisy (Lybyer) Rust in Cortez, Colo., the youngest of seven children. The family moved to Missouri three years later. She attended Houston High School her freshman year, then finished high school in Cabool, where she was selected “Year Book Queen.”
She married Glen Eugene Arthur on Aug. 26, 1949. They lived with Glen’s parents for about a month until they rented a house. When they moved there, everything they owned fit in the backseat of their 1938 Chevrolet. They were both employed at the local shoe factory.
Glen and Phyllis built a home in the White Rock Community, where they raised five sons. They worked the dairy farm with Glen’s parents for many years, while Glen also worked outside the home and Phyllis was in the business of family, farm, friends and clubs. In later years, Phyllis worked from Rust Utility Shop, where she and Glen had gotten into the water well pump business with her brother, Edgar. They ended up buying the business and built their own shop south of town, where ARPCO Pump still remains today.
Phyllis received Jesus as her Savior in September 1956. She was a faithful servant throughout the rest of her life, as many know of her tireless efforts in being involved in the Texas County Hospice of Care beginnings She was faithful to her church family and always at hand to help in whatever was needed.
Phyllis loved gospel music and loved to sing. She was the soprano voice for the quartet along with Russell Koch and Ed & Verna Moore. They sang at many church functions and funerals and also had a sponsored radio program.
She was involved in various clubs and organizations, including Missouri University Extension, White Rock Quilting Club (met every Wednesday and stayed for lunch), Bunco Club and started a support group for widows that named themselves OWLs (On With Living). She was always eager to play UNO with her grandchildren (and some accused her of cheating) and absolutely loved seeing them and hearing any new stories about them.
Phyllis’ health had been declining the last several years, but she continued to work every day at the family business. She was the recipient in 2013 of the Missouri Older Worker Award due to her stubbornness to not stay home.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen; an unborn child; her parents; a brother, Glenn; and sisters, Leona, Faye and Hazel.
Phyllis is survived by her five sons, Bill and wife, Vivian, of St. Louis, Bruce of Phoenix, Ariz., Robert and wife, Connie, of Mansfield, Ohio, David and wife, Teresa, of Houston and Jeff of St. Louis; seven grandchildren, Amanda & Jeremy Krill of Hicksville, Ohio, Megan & Chris Strain, Grant Arthur of Mansfield, Ohio, Luke & Jodi Arthur of Houston, Mo., Caleb & Rachel Arthur of Houston, Mo., and Kingston & Krystal Arthur, Alexis Arthur of St. Louis, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Riley, Grace, Carter, Sydney, Trinity, Hayden, Makenzi, Jordan, Jacob, Deacon, Delaney, Eden and Zion; a brother, Edgar Rust; a sister, Wanda Tate; many nieces and nephews; and hundreds of friends.
Phyllis received her eternal reward Oct. 6, 2015 ,surrounded by family singing God’s praises.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at Oak Hill Christian Church. Officiating were Don Crockett, Jeff Arthur and Kingston Arthur. Burial was in the White Rock Cemetery.
Pallbearers were her grandchildren, Amanda Krill, Megan Strain, Grant Arthur, Luke Arthur, Alexis Arthur, Caleb Arthur and Kingston Arthur. Honorary pallbearers were her great-grandchildren, Riley, Grace, Carter, Sydney, Trinity, Hayden, Zion, Makenzi, Jordan, Jacob, Deacon, Delaney and Eden.
Donations may be made in her honor to Texas County Hospice of Care or the White Rock Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
Services were under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
PAID