Memorials

Alice Annabel Phemister, 97, of Columbia City, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 3:00 a.m. Sunday, September 27, 2009 at Miller's Merry Manor Nursing Home, Columbia City.

Born on March 27, 1912 in Columbia Township, she was the daughter of Charles Henry and Ruth L. (Hart) Miller.                  

Her early education was in the elementary schools of Collins and she graduated from Columbia City High School with the Class of 1930.

She earned her R.N. degree in the Dixon State Hospital School of Nursing, Dixon, Illinois.

On March 27, 1936 she married Clyde Harold Phemister at her parents' home. She practiced her profession as a registered nurse in California , Texas and Oklahoma . When her husband was sent overseas with the armed forces in Okinawa and the Pacific Theatre, she returned to Indiana to be near her parents. Following her husband's 1946 discharge, they remained in Whitley County where they built a country home on SR 14 and

Raber Road

, Jefferson Township, to care for her elderly parents.

She continued her nursing career at Elkhart General Hospital, Linvill Memorial Hospital and the Whitley County Memorial Hospital, as well as in a local physician's office and as a private duty nurse in patient's homes.

Following the death of her husband, she moved to Blue River Apartments and later entered the nursing home.

She was a member of the Columbia City First Church of God.

Survivors include her daughter, JoEllen (Everett) Gaff of Columbia City; 2 grandsons, Shane and Jared Gaff of Columbia City; a great-granddaughter, Kiylin Gaff of Michigan and several nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Clyde Harold Phemister, a sister, Olivia Miller Sovine and brothers, James, John and Lewis Miller.

A service was held Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive , Columbia City, with Pastor Steve Johnson of the Oak Grove Church of God officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery . Memorials may be given in memory of Mrs. Phemister to Oak Grove Church of God. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. 

Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.