Phyllis Marjorie (Hockin) Stewart

Phyllis Marjorie Stewart, 82, of Neepawa, passed away on February 8, 2020, at the Neepawa Hospital. Phyllis was born in Neepawa to parents Frank and Isabel Hockin, on October 9, 1937.
Phyllis grew up on the Hockin family farm in Mentmore, with siblings Ken, Harold (Fee) and Joyce and lived in the Neepawa area for the majority of her life, with the exception of her attendance of Normal School in Brandon. After her graduation from the program in 1958, she taught at the Oberon school for one year.
On December 27, 1958, Phyllis married Robert (Bob) Stewart and they settled in Mentmore, where Bob farmed with his brother Earl Stewart and Phyllis and Bob raised their three children: Ken, Tracy and Barb. Bob and Phyllis remained in Mentmore until they moved to Neepawa in 1998, when Ken moved to the family farm. After Bob's passing in 1999, Phyllis remained living on her own in her house in Neepawa, until moving to Elks Manor in the summer of 2018.
Phyllis was a very active member of any community where she lived, whether it be the Mentmore UCW, the Legion Ladies Auxiliary (from whom she was awarded a 50 year pin in 2019), the Red Hat Society or singing in the Neepawa United Church Choir. Phyllis was well-known to the residents of Brookdale, where she spent many years working with her sister, brother-in-law and niece, Joyce Fraser, Don Fraser and Margo Fraser, at Fraser's General Store. As well, she spent many a spring helping family friend/Stewart relative Don Montgomery transplant bedding plants for his greenhouse. There's no doubt the plants were that much stronger for withstanding the barbs and jokes the two of them traded. To all who crossed her path, Phyllis's zest for life and wicked sense of humour were infectious. She was a kind and generous friend and family member whose door was always open, unless it was too early in the morning, as all her friends at Elks Manor knew!
Phyllis was a woman of many talents. Family and friends were often the lucky recipients of the bounty from her gardening, baking or knitting projects. And a few folks were known for an uncanny ability to appear on days she was baking her famous bread and cinnamon buns. She loved nothing more than having lunch with her close friends or watching a good game of curling on a Sunday afternoon and then chatting with friends about it afterward.
Phyllis is survived by sister Joyce Fraser, son Ken Stewart, his wife Belinda Stewart, their children Tyler Stewart and Kailee Dyck and their spouses Amanda Stewart and Kurtis Dyck, daughter Tracy Traill and her husband Patrick Traill and their children, Kenzie Traill, Lynley Traill and Jorie Traill, daughter Barb Stewart and her husband Allan Conroy.    
She was predeceased by husband Bob and brothers Ken and Harold. A funeral service was held on February 13, 2020 at the Neepawa United Church and she was interred at the Neepawa Cemetery.
There are many friends and family members whose lives will be a little less bright with the loss of Phyllis. To honour her memory, the family asks donations be made to Neepawa and Area Palliative Care.
 

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