Helma E. McPhail, 79, of Farmersville, died Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Pittsfield, with family by her side.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 28, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Bramley Funeral Home in Divernon with the Rev. Brian Lester officiating. Burial will be held in Brush Creek Cemetery in Divernon.
Mrs. McPhail was born Aug. 7, 1941, in Staunton, the daughter of Walther and Marie (Meier) Henke. She married George W. McPhail on Sept. 1, 1963, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Farmersville, and he preceded her in death on May 23, 2014.
She graduated from Memorial Hospital Nursing School as the last RN class of 1962. She worked in Jacksonville at Holy Cross Hospital for two years, then started her career as the nurse for Dr. William Conroy at Springfield Clinic for 24 years. She later worked at the State of Illinois Healthcare and Family Services until her retirement in 2001.
A member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Farmersville, she was also a member of Farmersville Fire Department women’s waterball team. She enjoyed gardening, canning and planting flowers. She enjoyed crafts and quilting, as well as painting ceramics.
In her spare time, she and her husband enjoyed camping and going to southern gospel concerts throughout the United States. After her retirement, they spent their winters in Florida, where they continued to enjoy their gospel music and the outdoors.
She is survived by her three daughters, Brenda Beal of Jacksonville, Donna (Brandon) Snyder of Springfield and Missy (Mary) McPhail of Pittsfield; four grandchildren, Peyton (Chris) Beal, Danyon Beal, and Faith and Jonah Snyder; two siblings, Erwin Henke of Virden and Dorothy Caudle of Farmersville; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Bertha Duewer.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Lester’s Gospel Group.
Online condolences may be left at www.bramleyfh.com.
