Phyllis May Settles

Phyllis May (Kelley) Settles, age 95, of Hastings, Michigan, passed away on September 21, 2021.  Phyllis was born on May 3, 1926 in Lafayette, Indiana, the Daughter of Jesse and Ethel Amy (Grove) Kelley.

She attended Hastings High School, graduating in 1944. She attended Grace Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit, Michigan, graduating in 1947 as part of the Army Corps of Nursing program at the end of World War II.  Phyllis was married to David Settles of Hastings on November 15, 1947. They were married for 64 years.

Phyllis had a beautiful alto voice, singing for many years in the choir at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hastings. She was also a guest soloist at several other Hastings churches. Phyllis participated in the yearly production of Handel's "Messiah" presented by the Grand Rapids Symphonic Choir. She and David lived in Gainesville, Georgia with Mary and Charlie for nine years, during which time she sang in the choir at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church. She remained an active member of Emmanuel Church in Hastings until her death.

Phyllis was a dedicated writer. She was best known for her poetry, but she also wrote volumes of prose. She left dozens of stories about her early life in Battle Creek and Hastings. She belonged to several writing groups through the years and turned out hundreds of poems. Her favorite medium was haiku. Several of her poems were published in poetry journals. She was also a dedicated journalist, writing daily entries in dozens of notebooks through the years. Phyllis' spirit will live on as a singer of songs, a leader of neighborhood Christmas carols, a player of autoharps, a writer of poems, a knitter of afghans, scarves and mittens, a watcher of movies, a prolific gluer of scrapbooks, a keeper of gardens, kittens, puppies and fish, a raker of leaves, a lover of big sandwiches, a cooker of scrumptious meatballs and firepit stews with that special smokey taste, and a lover of life, in all that it had to offer her. She will be missed.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, David, and her brothers, Jack Sage and Keith Sage.

She is survived by brother Dick Kelley of Marshall, Michigan, daughter Mary Lynne Settles (Charlie) Andrus of Fishers Indiana, son Michael David Settles of Decatur, Michigan, grandchildren David (Courtney) Andrus of Fishers, Indiana, Jonathon (Amy) Andrus of Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, Ericka Andrus of South Pasadena, California, and Amy Jo Andrus of South Haven, Michigan. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church "Solar Array Project", 315 W. Center St. Hastings, MI 49058.

Graveside burial service for Phyllis will be conducted by the Reverend Mother Linnea Stifler at Riverside Cemetery (North) in Hastings on Saturday, October 9 at 11:00 am. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home.  To leave an online condolence, visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net .