Phyllis I. Croften

Phyllis I. Croften, 87, of Battle Creek, died Wednesday, October 31st, 2018. Phyllis, a lifelong resident of Battle Creek, was born to Ray and Ila Mae (Philip) Woodman on January 26th, 1931. She graduated from what is now Battle Creek Central in 1949 and went on to receive her LPN, in 1956, from Battle Creek Practical Nursing Education Center.

Phyllis worked at Elm Street Hospital, which later became Lakeview Osteopathic Hospital in 1949, after graduating high school, as a nursing assistant and later as an aide and LPN surgical scrub nurse at Lakeview Osteopathic Hospital. She continued her nursing work at Springhill Nursing Home, Marshall Manor and Calhoun County Medical Care Facility until she retired in 1988.

In her free time Phyllis loved sewing, mending, arts and crafts and traveling. Phyllis, along with her sister Emily Jean, liked exploring cemeteries in Michigan.

Phyllis is survived by her sister, Emily J. Woodman of Battle Creek; a brother James (Ilene) Woodman of Battle Creek; three daughters, Robin (Robert) Brewer of Athens, Patricia M. Warren of Battle Creek and Cindy Illingworth of Naples, FL; a daughter-in-law, Diane Croften of Richland; eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Ruth Campo, a son, Neil Croften and two nephews.

Cremation has taken place as per Phyllis' wishes and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in honor of Phyllis can be made to Heartland Hospice or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.