Phyllis Jean Smuts

Phyllis Jean Smuts passes away at the age of 95 on May 30, 2025 in her daughter-in-law's home in Post Falls Idaho. Phyllis was born on August 10, 1929 in Huntington, Indiana to Clarence E. Welty and Josephine Stookey. 

Phyllis grew up in Huntington Indiana where she graduated from high school. She was one of thirteen siblings. When Phyllis was 10 years old, family circumstances forced the children to be adopted out to families. Phyllis herself was in foster care for four years. Many of her siblings were even unaware they had brothers and sisters until years later when Phyllis and her younger sister started doing research and found all thirteen! All of the siblings were able to reunite in 1996 in Huntington, and the event was even recorded in the local paper. 

Phyllis married Robert Q. Smuts in Olympia, Washington on September 13, 1949. After Robert's stay in the Army, Phyllis and Bob lived in many places as Bob's job for El Pas Natural Gas as a plant superintendent meant having a number of transfers. They made their homes in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and finally retirement back in Colorado. 

Along the way the couple raised four boys, care for numerous pets, had many adventures boating, fishing and traveling. Phyllis was up for the challenge of being the homemaker for all the boys. She baked all their bread from scratch, canned the garden produce. She sewn their western shirts and hemmed many pair of Levis. 

Phyllis enjoyed making quilts for the grand children, creating all sorts of craft projects. She enjoyed visiting with her neighbors, writing letters, going on shopping trips and beachcombing near their home in Port Aransas, Texas.  

After Bob's passing, Phyllis lived in Grand Junction, Colorado then moved to Washougal, WA then Coeur D'Alene. Her final tree years were spent with her daughter-in-law in Post Falls, Idaho along with her Pomeranian of thirteen years. She enjoyed watching footfall and golf, attending lunches at the Hayden Senior Center, reading her iPad and Kindle, and calling her out-of-state friends. She was always cheerful and had a smile for everyone. 

Phyllis is survived by her daughters-in law Karen Smuts of Post Falls, ID and Lenora Smuts of Rangely, CO; and Marlene Smuts of Grand Junction, CO. She has numerous nieces and nephews in Indiana. She has 8 grandchildren living across the US, and Numerous great-grandchildren also living across the country.