NEW LIMERICK – Phylliss Joyce Hardy McNutt, 80, died Sunday morning, March 5, 2006, at Drews Lake in New Limerick surrounded by her family, after a long period of declining health. She was born Aug. 8, 1925, in Houlton, the fourth child of Nelson and Violet Estey Hardy. Phylliss lived her entire life in the Houlton area until four years ago when she and her husband, Harold, retired to Rio Rico, Ariz. They had returned to Maine to South Portland in July 2005. Phylliss was the salutatorian of Houlton High School, Class of 1943 and worked at the Houlton and Temple theaters. During World War II, she was recognized for her significant contribution to the country through her sale of war bonds. In 1946, Phylliss married Harold Alden McNutt, also of Houlton. Phylliss’s life-long career in management spanned several decades of dedicated employment with Houlton Cable TV and Bee Line Cable TV, where she attained the position of vice president before retiring in 1990. Her favorite pastimes included knitting, reading, painting, crossword puzzles and playing Parcheesi. One of the highlights of her life was an excursion to Paris with a group of her best friends. She loved a “good brisk sit,” cheap wine, sitting around a fire reminiscing, staying up late listening to music, searching for seashells at the ocean, walking in the rain and, upon occasion, shining for eels. A lover of music, art and poetry, she was known to wax rhapsodic over a beautiful sunset or freshly fallen snow on evergreens. Phylliss was predeceased by her husband, Harold; her brother, Earl; her sisters, Evelyn and Dorothy; and by two grandsons, Theron James McNutt and Ryan Douglas McNutt. One of Phylliss’s greatest legacies is her family. She is survived by her eight children, Tana McNutt of Drews Lake, Jim of Dedham, Doug of Drews Lake, Ted of Linneus, Jerry of Windham, Joni McNutt of South Portland, Mark of Tumacacori, Ariz. and Bret of Hampden. She is also survived by five daughters-in-law, Lori, Patty, Michelle, Pam and Kim; 15 grandchildren, Dennis, Jesse, Courtney, Gretel, Angie, Stacey, Kirsten, Jeremy, Karri, Heath, Dan, Josh, Sam, Lucas and Sierra; and 11 great-grandchildren, Daniel, Hailee, Ethin, Phoenix, Elyjah, Ella, Sophia, Pano, Cassidy, Emma and Bella. A memorial service will be held for Phylliss 4 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Phylliss’s name to Hospice of Aroostook, care of Dunn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 127, Houlton, ME 04730.
PHYLLISS H. MCNUTT
