Phyllis Marie Richardson is in the arms of Jesus now, leaving this world Friday, August 17, 2018 at 8:43 a.m. at a Springfield hospital. She was 82 years old and adored by all who knew and loved her. Phyllis was born at home in Monett, Missouri, on October 19,1935. Springfield was home to Phyllis, but she had lived all over the country, moving for her husband's job or following his ministry. Her life was devoted to her family, especially to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Phyllis was led to the Lord at the age of 9, and her mission in life was to lead everyone who crossed her path to the Lord. That calling led her to have after-school Good News Clubs to teach neighborhood kids about Jesus. As a pastor's wife, she counseled church members and loved them unconditionally. She was a Sunday School teacher who visualized Bible lessons with flannelgraph. As a school teacher's assistant she showed children how to excel academically. She also raised five children who worshiped the ground on which she walked. By the time she was 50, Phyllis started working home-based businesses, and succeeded in that as well. Then at 60, after 39 years of marriage she lost the love of her life. For the last 22 years, she has battled cancer, diabetes, and heart problems to stay with us. She was smart and funny, always quick with a come-back, making us laugh everyday.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Henry Richardson, three children, Scotty, Daniel, and Kelly, her parents, Harvey and Magdalene Taylor, her brother, Donald, and her sister Norma Jean Vader, brother-in-law, Dennis Vader, and great nephew, Ryan Paul.

She leaves behind five children: Craig Richardson, Lisa Rose, Mark Richardson, Matthew Richardson, and Rebekah McCart; two daughters-in-law: Jennifer Richardson and Kathleen Kristek; and two sons-in-law: Randy Rose and Phillip McCart. She is also survived by twenty-three grandchildren: Jason, April, Samuel, Andria, Chelsea, and Sydney Richardson, Nicholas and Amber Hatfield, Jeremy, Jamie, Angela and Emily Rose, Victoria and Annie Richardson, Matthew, Lilly, and Soleil Richardson, Willow Zakian, Eloise and Oscar, Skylar Richardson, Aaron, Sean, and Tabitha McCart. Her sixteen great-grandchildren are Brandon Lee, Breanna Magdalene, Lauren Nicole, Nathaniel Taylor, Tyler Chad, Jack Henry, Bailey, Blakely, Laindun, Laytun, Richtun, Baden James, Tori Lynn, Lexi Jay, Henry Wallace, and Micah Daniel. She is survived as well by her beloved niece and nephew, Connie Houston and Dennis Vader, their children, grandchildren and her dear cousins.

A celebration of Phyllis' life will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 22, at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Monett, Missouri. Visitation will be Tuesday, the night before, from 6pm to 8p.m.