Phyllis Marlyn Nutt peacefully went to Heaven on October 19, 2024 in St. Joseph, after a final gathering of her many loved ones. Phyllis’s proudest accomplishment was her family, and they were blessed to be together in her last moments.
Phyllis was born on December 12, 1934 in Flint, Michigan to Orie Edwin Birdsley and Viola Ruth (Coe) Birdsley. She had seven siblings: Frances, Vivian, Orie, Lucy, Jerry, Edith, and Edwin. She attended Beecher High School, where she was a drum majorette and was in basketball and glee club, before being forced to drop out after her sophomore year.
Phyllis was an independent woman who lived life on her own terms. She married William Nutt in 1953 but left him to create a better home for her children. While raising her children as a single mother, she went to night school to finish her high school degree, graduating from Berrien Springs High School alongside her oldest son. She was married to Frank Stover from 1968 until his death in 1973; during that time, they blended their large families together into a household of twelve children. She later obtained a nursing degree and for many years worked as a private nurse in Chicago, commuting back and forth on weekends. One of her jobs as a nurse in the 80s was lovingly caring for patients dying of AIDS, at a time when few people would.
Phyllis loved music; she played the piano and loved hearing her grandchildren play as well. She loved her pets, which over her life included dogs, cats, and birds. Her favorite animals were frogs, and she had an extensive collection of frog souvenirs. In her later years, she lived in Lakeview Terrace Apartments in downtown St. Joseph, where she enjoyed watching the boats in the harbor from her 11th-floor balcony.
Phyllis’s greatest joy was her family. Her home was filled with photos of her loved ones, and she never passed up an opportunity to brag about her grandkids. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, son Rick Nutt, grandchildren Scott Nutt and Ashley Duffy, and great-granddaughter Alyssa Nutt. She is survived by seven children: Mary Yaniskivis, Bill (Carol) Nutt, Cindy (Dan) Hart, Lucy Duffy, Steve (Suzanne) Nutt, Cheryl (Rocky) Baryo, and Billy Ray (Freda) Curl; daughter-in-law Sherry Nutt;; 23 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and even 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Phyllis loved riding and people-watching at the Silver Beach Carousel, and her family had planned to hold her 90th birthday party there. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the carousel. Arrangements are entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign Phyllis’ Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 27, 2025 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs.
Memorial Contributions
SILVER BEACH CAROUSEL
Service Details
Service
When
June 27th, 2025 11:00am
Where
Rose Hill Cemetery
Address
9772-10160 Rosehill Rd.
Berrien Springs , MI 49103
Service Information
Graveside Services will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 27, 2025 at Rose Hill Cemetery
Interment
Where
Rose Hill Cemetery
Address
9772-10160 Rosehill Rd.
Berrien Springs , MI 49103
Posted On: Thursday, June 12, 2025 2:21 PM
