Phyllis Jean (McCarty) Mervosh, 87, of East Peoria, died Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton, IL. Phyllis was born December 29, 1933 in Havana, IL to Eugene and Urla (Siebenborn) McCarty. The McCarty family moved to Peoria, and Phyllis was the big sister that helped her parents raise her younger siblings. An outstanding youth athlete in fast-pitch softball and basketball, she graduated from Woodruff High School in Peoria in 1951. After graduation, Phyllis worked at LeTourneau Westinghouse and met Theodore 'Ted' Mervosh through work and sports leagues. Phyllis and Ted married on November 20, 1954 in East Peoria and enjoyed almost 54 years of marriage together until Ted died in 2008. Phyllis is survived by their sons, Steven (Jane) Mervosh of Rochester, MN, and Todd (Lynn) Mervosh of Suffield, CT. Her grandchildren are Jeffrey (Kate Dykgraaf) Mervosh of Arlington, VA, Lisa Mervosh of Washington, DC, and Anna Mervosh of Suffield, CT/Wellesley, MA. Phyllis was thrilled to add great-grandson Theodore 'Teddy' Mervosh, age 2, of Arlington, VA to her family. She is also survived by four siblings, Jim (Betty) McCarty, Chuck (Kathy) McCarty, Ed McCarty, and Mindy (Dave) Atherton, all of Spring Bay, IL, and a large extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ted; sister Janice; brothers Robert, David, John, and Richard. Phyllis was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was tremendously thoughtful and caring, a pillar of support for her entire extended family and friends. She welcomed neighborhood children, nieces, nephews, and friends into her home. She volunteered for youth sports leagues and as election judge, but the primary focus of her life was being there for family and friends, nurturing them, cooking her legendary homemade meals, and helping in any way she could. Phyllis could strike up a conversation with anybody and thrived on meeting new people, including them in her "family." A solace for all of us in her three last years of challenging health, was her opportunity to meet and impact so many new friends. Phyllis was strong and independent, right to the end. She was proud of her legacy, of a life well-lived, and was ready to meet her Father in Heaven. Cremation rites have been accorded per request. Please join her family and friends as we celebrate her life at noon on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at Peoria First Assembly, 4020 N. Brandywine Drive, Peoria, IL. A light luncheon will follow next door at The Christian Center, 4100 N. Brandywine Drive. Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington is assisting the family with arrangements. Her family expresses appreciation and gratitude to the health support team for Phyllis during the last few years: Apostolic Christian Restmor, OSF, Riverview Generations, Serenity Assisted Living, as well as to family members and friends. Memorials are appreciated to any cause you hold dear. Suggestions for Phyllis include The Christian Center (4100 N. Brandywine Dr., Peoria IL 61614-6780, www.thechristiancenter.cc ) and Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton (1500 Parkside Ave, Morton, IL 61550).