Phyllis Jean Otto

Phyllis Jean Otto, of Bay City, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2016 at Evergreen Pines AFC in Essexville, age 66. She was born on July 24, 1949 in Latrobe, PA. Phyllis was a phlebotomist for many years, retiring from McLaren Bay Region. She was also a water lab specialist with the Bay County Health Department. Phyllis enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading and spending time outdoors with her dog, Taco. She was a very caring person, always putting others first. Phyllis was a glowing spirit that touched the lives of all who were fortunate to encounter her. Her friends were her family and she actively invested herself in preserving those ties. She will be remembered for the fantastic, sarcastic and wildly entertaining letters she hand wrote. Despite opting out of modern technology (like cell phones and laptops) she kept in touch friends and remained informed on all worldly affairs. Phyllis was a person who gave people the benefit of the doubt and chose to focus on the positive aspects of life. Humor was her currency. Her life ended prematurely but not before she was able to leave a lasting impression on all those who were fortunate to know her during her life. Special thanks to her dear friend John Edmands, who abandoned his own pursuits to provide companionship, compassion and support for her during her time of need. She is gone but will not be forgotten.
Phyllis is survived by her mother, Bertha (Hoffmann) Otto-Potthoff of Pennsylvania; a sister, Gretchen Otto of Michigan; her nephews and 18 cousins; and many friends. She was predeceased by her father, Wilbur Otto; a sister, Kathy Feifert; and her Godmother, Aunt Helen Bridge.
A special thanks to Phyllis' care team, McLaren Bay Region Hospital, Evergreen Pines Adult Foster Care Home, and friends, SuAnn, Larry, Rich and John.
A Celebration of Life will be held at John's residence, 1600 Fifth St., Bay City, Michigan 48708 (989)686-2291, on Saturday, July 16, 2016 starting at 2:00 p.m. For those who so desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Bay Region, 3140 W. Campus Drive, Bay City, MI 48706. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. www.gephartfuneralhome.com