Obituary of Phyliss Ann Kearney

Phyliss Ann Kearney, at the age of 76, died peacefully on January 28, 2017 at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, California. Phyliss was born in March 1940 in Lindsay, California, and was the daughter of Franklin Earl Hendricks and Martha Elizabeth Magdaline Duckworth. The family moved from Lindsay to the Almaden Valley in Santa Clara County, where she spent her early childhood and attended Willow Glen high school. In 1960, at age 19, she married Philip C. Kearney (age 24) and moved to Aptos, California where she lovingly raised four sons. Phyliss attended Cabrillo College and graduated from San Jose State University School of Nursing. She subsequently worked 40 years as a geriatric nurse, at several hospitals, in Santa Cruz County. She was known for her great sense of humor, her altruistic nature, and for the compassionate support she selflessly provided to her patients. After retirement, Phyliss enjoyed gardening (her favorite flowers were roses, lilies and snap dragons), crafting and puzzle solving in her ocean view Aptos home, where she built several scale model victorian houses complete with miniature hand made furniture. Her sentimental nature led her to restoring antique furniture for a time. She enjoyed collecting porcelain dolls of historic women figures. Phyliss was an avid reader who enjoyed a good mystery novel or Steven King thriller. She was a fan of baseball, her favorite teams were the A's and the Giants. She taught herself to crochet and created wonderful blankets and throws which she freely gave away to anyone who expressed an interest. The pinnacle of her life was the birth of her children, and most profoundly, her grandchildren: Kevin Andrew Kearney, Jessica Ann Kearney and Katie Ann Kearney. Phyliss is survived by one brother, Roy (Keri) Hendricks and one sister, Joyce Hendricks; Her three sons, Philip (Elena), Andrew (Lynne), Dion (Karen); Three grandchildren, Kevin, Jessica and Katie; Several nieces and nephews; Grandnieces and grandnephews; and a number of other relatives and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Franklin and Martha Hendricks; husband, Philip Comins Kearney; son, Duncan Edward Kearney; and three brothers, William Earl Hendricks, Floyd Weston Hendricks and Loyd Westly Hendricks. A service will be held on February 11, 2017 at 1:30 PM at the Santa Cruz Memorial, Mission Chapel, located at 1927 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, California.