Phyllis Parry Keutgen - June 16, 1918. - January 20, 2018

Phyllis was born in Brooklyn NY the daughter of Laura Grant and Benjamin Parry. She spent much of her childhood with her younger brother Fred in various cities around the US as their meteorologist father was transferred to different sites. By high school they had arrived back in the east coast and she graduated from Lyndhurst (NJ) High School. She went on to Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT and the University of Connecticut. WW II intervened while she was at UConn and she left school to work with the Red Cross reporting to the US Army Nurse Corps on hospital trains carrying wounded soldiers around the US. While serving she met David Keutgen standing in line at the airport, both returning to base. They were married May 18, 1946. They had two daughters, Elizabeth (Betti) and Margaret (Peggi.) Phyllis and Dave moved to Packanack Lake, Wayne, NJ and raised their daughters there. Phyllis was active as a 4-H leader and made all the dresses her daughters wore. She also taught Sunday School at Packanack Community Church. Being of Welsh descent was a very important part of her identity. Phyllis was an active member of the Women's Welsh Clubs of America eventually becoming the national president of the organization. In that role she served on the Board of The Welsh Home, Rocky River, OH. After Dave died in 1987, she moved to their Shore home in Ocean Grove, NJ. There she became active in The Historical Society, Meals on Wheels, Citizen's Patrol, The Fishing Club, The Sally Girls, The Jersey Shore Women's Club and Women's Circle at St Paul's Methodist Church. She also enjoyed many meals at The Starving Artist and ice cream cones at Day's Ice Cream. In 2012 with her eyesight failing, she moved into Francis Asbury Manor. There she left her mark as president of the Residents Council. She was also active with the Spiritual Life Committee and Chat with the Chaplin. She shared her thoughts about how things should be done with the management as her time on Board of The Welsh Home had given her very strong feelings of how homes for the elderly should be run. When FAM became Allegria at Ocean Grove she took the opportunity to become friends with the new managers and share her advice. She loved the staff and shared her Bingo winnings with everyone. She loved it when the whole family would come to The Grove in the summer. And right up to the end of her life she enjoyed hearing and sharing stories of her grands and great-grands. Be friends. Be kind. This is the most important thing. In keeping with her very clear wishes, there will be no memorial service. In the spring there will be a graveside service with family as her remains are buried with her dear husband in Pompton Reformed Church, Pompton Lakes, NJ. She was predeceased by her brother, Fred. Phyllis is survived by: Daughters - Elizabeth (Dan) Abbas and Margaret (Mark) Warburton Grandchildren - Erika (Matt) Hanna, Geoff (Kristen) Abbas, Melissa (Chris) Leishman and Meredith Warburton Great-grandchildren - Ben Abbas, Gideon Abbas, Zachary Hanna, Alexander Hanna and Avery Leishman Several nieces, nephews and cousins And her very best friend at FAM and Allegria - Marilyn Smith. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions in her name to

The Welsh Home Attention: Sarah Koch 22199 Center Ridge Rd. Rocky River, OH 44116 or a charity of your choice.