Obituaries

 

Phyllis M. Cawley

PORTAGE –  Phyllis M. Cawley, age 92, of Portage, died on Wednesday, December 07, 2011,  at American Way in Portage.

Phyllis was born on September 19, 1919, in Portage, the daughter of William and Myrtle (Smith) Horton.  She married Kermit C. Cawley on May 4, 1941, at the Portage Presbyterian Church.  Kermit preceded her in death on December 21, 2006.  Phyllis worked as a beautician at the Rolf Hotel for several years. In 1939, along with her mother Myrtle, and her husband Kermit, Phyllis opened the first A&W Root Beer Stand in Portage, operating it until 1976.   Phyllis was a member of the Eastern Star, White Shrine, and the Portage Women’s Civic League.  She was a Cub Scouts den mother, and a Girl Scouts troop leader.    

Phyllis is survived by her son, David K. (Susan) Cawley, Racine; her daughter, Christine (Frank) Thornton, LaCrosse;  six grandchildren, Michael (Amy) Thornton, LaCrosse, Brian (Laura) Cawley, Grand Rapids, MI, Matthew (Stephanie) Thornton, LaCrosse, Andrew (Erica) Cawley, Racine, Mark Thornton, New York, NY, and Karen (Paul) Goebel, Green Bay;  eight great-grand-children, Calvin and Benjamin Thornton, Jacob Thornton, Sean and Erin Cawley, Tenney Cawley, and Grady and Mason Goebel, many dear nephews, nieces, other relatives and close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kermit, a brother-in-law, John Cawley, and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Harry (Mary) Cawley.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011 at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage with Rev. David Hankins officiating.  Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Cawley Scholarship Fund, c/o David Cawley, 5201 Northwestern Dr., Racine, WI 53406.

 

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)