Phyllis Elaine Huntley East passed away peacefully at home on December 13, 2023, at age 90. A devout Christian, she grew up in San Diego, California, the daughter of Rev. Arthur V. Huntley and Marjorie Huntley. She attended Francis Parker School and graduated from San Diego High School. She was an accomplished musician, playing the marimba, cello, piano and recorder with joy, deftness and passion, often playing solo or in string quartets or accompanying choral groups and church choirs throughout her life. In addition to her piano skills, she excelled at other keyboards as well, typing in excess of 100 words per minute, and producing dozens of doctoral and masters’ dissertations and theses for seminary students. Her mother taught her to knit and crochet and other handcrafts and Phyllis’s crocheted wall hangers and centerpieces won awards. She made hundreds of crocheted and knitted scarves and caps to warm the less fortunate. In addition, she enjoyed creating decoupage and raising succulent flowers. Her handmade Raggedy Ann dolls gave joy to many young girls. She was an equestrian in her younger days and an avid hiker and camper, loving California’s Sierra Nevada and Cuyamaca mountains and the wilds of Kentucky. In 1967, Phyllis married George East and embarked on a 53 year journey with him. George and Phyllis started a puppetry troop while in San Diego, joined the San Diego Puppetry Guild and produced parable-themed puppetry shows at the San Diego Puppetry Theater and many churches. New opportunities led them to relocate to Portland, Oregon, where they bought a house near Western Baptist Theological Seminary. George worked for the seminary, and they boarded seminary students while Phyllis went back to college at Portland State University where she graduated with high honors studying exercise science and linguistics. She studied Greek and Hebrew biblical languages at the seminary to gain a deeper understanding of scripture and her faith. She added French to her language skills later in life. An amazing cook, she loved nothing better than hosting a group of people around her dinner table. George and Phyllis moved to Berea in 1997 to be closer to his family. They made a beautiful life in Kentucky. Her beloved George passed away in June 2020. Phyllis is survived by her sons, Stephen East and Charles East, her stepson, Daniel East, stepdaughter Carole East, nephews Paul Huntley and Daniel Huntley and nieces Marie Baldner, Mary Poe and Lesley Dumais. She is also survived by her beloved friends and caretakers, Timothy McHargue and Kimball Winters. She’s also survived by 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. George and Phyllis supported the Gideons and many local charities and churches.
Funeral services will be at 2pm, Thursday, December 19, 2023, at Lakes Funeral Home with Pastors Kenny Davis, and Brad Napier officiating. Burial will follow in the Berea Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 12pm to 2pm at the funeral home. Services will be livestreamed at www.lakesfuneralhome.com
Lakes Funeral Home in Berea is in charge of arrangements.
