Sharlyn Ann Phillips' Obituary
Sharlyn Ann Phillips passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, TN at the age of 86. She was born in Jacksonville, IL on February 5, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Clifford Amidei and Loretta Mae Defrates.
Sharlyn leaves behind her daughter, Fonda (Tom) Dichiara of Rossville, TN. She was preceded in death by her daughter Kimtoria Kae Wernecke (40) of Louisville, KY. She leaves behind her grandchildren Natalie Kaiser (Phillip) of Batavia, OH and Justin Wernecke, La Grange, KY. She also leaves three great grandchildren Melanie Kaiser, Landon Kaiser, and Owen Kaiser. She was also preceded in death by her son Glenn Phillips (46) of Memphis, TN. She leaves her sister Connie Tuchmann of Springfield, IL and brother, John Amidei (Patsy) of Gainesville, GA. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Jerry Amidei of Jacksonville, IL, Michael Amidei (Linda) of Belleaire, FL and Terry Amidei of Seattle, WA. She also leaves behind her nephews and nieces, Jeff Amidei (Carolina), JP Amidei, Michael Tuchmann, Pam Tuchmann, Doug Tuchmann (Stacey), Kristin Schenck (Tucker), and Michael Amidei (Amy).
Sharlyn graduated high school at Springfield High School in Springfield, IL in 1957. She studied art at Memphis State University and Illinois College. She married Glenn F. Phillips on January 28, 1961 in Springfield, IL and together they had three children, Kimtoria Kae, and twins Fonda and Glenn. She married Edwin W. Stafford, Sr on July 19, 1987. They were together until Edwin's death on April 1, 2001. After her children were born, she changed course and received training as a stenographer which eventually led to her employment as a Federal Court Reporter for the United States District Court Western District of Tennessee in Memphis, TN. She was very proud of her career and retired in 2009.
Sharlyn enjoyed going places and doing things with her family before and after retirement. She adored celebrating their birthdays, holidays, graduations and special events with them. Many family vacations were spent at Fairfield Bay, Arkansas and French Lick, Indiana. But also trips to Italy, Bahamas, Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, and Europe. She loved going to church and did some volunteer work at Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown, TN after she retired.
In 2018, she moved to Dyersburg, TN to be closer to her long time friend and travel companion Darrell Rutledge of Dyersburg, TN. Together they took countless road trips and logged many miles traveling to Texas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, Washington, DC, and more. They also shared a love of flowers and gardening, watching athletic games, time with family and friends and being active in local groups in Dyersburg, TN. Sharlyn was a very stylish and attractive woman. Everywhere she went she turned heads. She loved to decorate and had a keen eye in interior design. Her beauty inside and out will be forever remembered and cherished by her family and all that knew her.
Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Memorial Park Funeral Home until the funeral service begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Fireside Chapel. Entombment will follow in Memorial Park Mausoleum. Immediately following will be a reception in the Funeral Home.
Donations can be made to the charity of your choice in the name of Sharlyn Ann Phillips.
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