Phyllis A. (Vaughn) Lovett, age 71, passed away April 29, 2013 in Springfield, MO after a long illness. She was born on November 16, 1941, in McHue, Ark. to James and Thelma Vaughn. She married Mark Lovett on July 20, 1962 in Springfield, MO. Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, both parents and a brother, Jerry Vaughn. She is survived by her daughters; Michelle Dickens and her husband Terry, of Springfield and Deborah Pettit and her husband Mike, of Lebanon, MO and three grandchildren; Justin Lewis, Springfield; Nikki Swofford, Springfield; and Andy Pettit, Lebanon.
Phyllis was a tireless advocate for the rights of the blind, having lost her own sight in 1971. She was the Executive Director of the Visually Impaired Preschool of Southwest Missouri for 16 years, and worked previously as a home teacher for those who had recently lost their sight. She was active in and held various offices in a number of professional and civic organizations, including the Missouri Council of the Blind, Lions Club Alpha Chapter, and the Ladies Auxiliary for the Missouri Grocers Association. She was an avid reader and devoted collector of Elvis memorabilia. She was also an author, having published “How to Speak Ozarkese, with English Translations” in 2011. Funeral services will be on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 3:00 p.m., in Greenlawn Funeral Home South with burial following in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home.