Phyllis Connell

Phyllis Jeane Connell, 89, of Osceola died Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola with the Rev. Julie M. Poore officiating. Visitation with the family present was from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to Homestead Assisted Living in Osceola. Online condolences may be left at www.kalefuneralhome.com.

Phyllis Jeane Connell, daughter of Rex E. Welty and Carrie Mildred Mullihan Welty, was born Sept. 4, 1927, in Nevada. Phyllis received her early education in California and began attending high school in Yuba City, California. In 1942, the family returned to Iowa and Phyllis continued her education at North High School in Des Moines, graduating in June 1945. She later attended Electronics Business School in Minneapolis. After graduating from business school, Phyllis took her first job in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where she worked for Santa Fe Railroad.

On June 14, 1946, she married James Schlott Connell at Las Vegas, New Mexico. Phyllis worked in many roles throughout the years ranging from a teletype apprentice to a housewife in later years.

Phyllis was a member of the women’s club at Osceola United Methodist Church and Federated Garden Club of Iowa.

Phyllis is survived by her daughter Janice (Roger) Shepard of Creston; grandchildren, Jodi (Bradley) Goodale of Eagle Grove, Julie (David) Chumbley of Halbur, Jennifer (Shawn) James of Prescott, Kati (Robert) Silliman of Osceola and James Shepard (fiancée Brandi Johnson) of Des Moines; 16 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson; as well as other relatives and many friends.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter Melinda Lee McCauley; daughter Karen Joyce McCauley and husband James Schlott Connell.