Phyllis Marie (Stone) Core, 98, of Carlisle, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2022 in Des Moines, Iowa. Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church in Indianola with burial following in the IOOF Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Phyllis was born on the family farm northeast of Indianola, unlike her older brother Warren and younger twin sisters, Alice and Eleanor. She attended grade school at Farmers School just down the road from home and graduated from Indianola High School in 1939, at the age of 16. While she attended Simpson College, Indianola, her brother Warren encouraged Reuben to call her for a date. She then continued her education at Merrill Palmer Institute for Child Development, Detroit, MI and Iowa State Teachers College, Ames, from where she attained a BS in Child Development in 1945.

Upon graduation Phyllis took a position teaching Kindergarten in Stockton, CA which was a convenient place to wait for Reuben to be discharged from the Navy in 1946. They were married in Stockton on February 23, 1946 at Central Methodist Church.

When she and Reuben returned to Iowa to farm Phyllis was very involved in 4-H, Farm Bureau, United Methodist Women, Pi Beta Phi Sorority, PEO, Simpson Guild and Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church. It is a wonder she found time to raise 3 sons, perform all the duties of a farm wife AND made thousands of pans of fudge!

Phyllis loved the farm life and felt lucky not to have a "town job". Family and food have always been an important part of life on the farm with big holiday get togethers, birthday parties or no reason at all. Her positive attitude will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Phyllis is survived by her sons, Alan (Denise) Core, Anthony (Suzanne) Core, Howard (Carolee) Core; four grandchildren, Leah (Andy) Andrews, Chad (Susan) Core, Aaron Core, Alyssa Core; 8 great-grandchildren, Tiffany LeMaster, Seth Core, Aiden Core, Kaila Core, Paisley Graulich, Aaliyah Core, Ian Core, Austin Core; brother-in-law, Dick (Betty) Escola; and many other family members and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Reuben; brother, Warren (Virginia) Stone; sisters, Alice Escola and Eleanor (Jim) Sherman. Phyllis was the last of her generation of the Stone and Core families.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, April 4 at Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church, 9020 160 ^th Ave, Indianola, where family will be present to greet friends. Those who wish to honor her life can give to Farmers Chapel or to a charity of their choice in her memory. Overton Funeral Home is in charge of services. To sign an online condolence, visit their website at www.overtonfunerals.com.