Merna Orthalene Phelps, 79, of rural Marietta, died at 9:25 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
She was born Sept. 30, 1918, in Vermont, Ill., a daughter of James and Grace Cook Bates. She married Forrest Thompson. She later married Joseph A. Phelps on July 2, 1948, in Lewistown. He died Nov. 2, 1978. One son, Jimmie Thompson, one brother and one sister preceded her in death.
Surviving are two sons, Billie Thompson of Smithfield and Joseph Phelps of Alexis; a friend, Dale Jones, with whom she made her home; several grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
She was a beautician since 1957. She was a member of Cuba American Legion Auxiliary.
Services were held Monday at Martin-Hollis Funeral Home in Bushnell with Rev. Richard Pricco officiating. Burial was in Bushnell Cemetery.
From the Peoria Journal Star.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus