Phyllis Ann Pillow's Obituary
Phyllis Ann Pillow
Born July 9, 1944 in Mesa, Arizona
Died December 1, 2025 in Sacramento, CA
She is survived by her four children Paul, Stacy, Kelly and Terry, her eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren, all of whom she adored.
Her parents were Michael and Clara Ellington.
She was number 8 of 10 kids and the last of her siblings. Life wasn’t always easy for her growing up. Her father was a farm hand and carpenter. Her family moved, a lot. Before she was 18 years old she had moved at least 30 times! Because of this kind of work she had to quit school while in the 8th grade. That kind of life was hard, especially on a young child who would just made friends with others kids and teachers at a school only to have to leave shortly after. But she would do her best to be cheerful disposition, partly because she wanted everyone she loved to be happy.
She was baptized at 9 years old at a Baptist gathering. Later on, when she was 15 years old, she had an encounter with the Lord, when she heard an audible voice say, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This is a portion of Matthew 28:20. She recalled that encounter all through her life and that gave her hope and firm faith.
She loved games; Scrabble, Boggle, washers, horseshoes, word searches, and jigsaw puzzles. Even at a young age she would try to start a baseball game with whoever was around. She liked baseball so much that when the church would meet on Monday nights for a softball game she would volunteer to play on the men’s team. Not too many women did that.
Eventually, her family moved to Fresno where met and married Don Pillow in 1965. They had four children. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad divorced in 1982. That was another hard time in her life, but God was faithful and used her friends and family to pull her through. She never remarried, but her life was full with her kids, then with grandchildren, and later with great grandchildren.
She cleaned houses for a long time, and she didn’t have to advertise, she was good it! Referrals only. That was how she provided for her children for a long time.
Phyllis always wanted to finish high school after having to drop out in the 8th grade, so at the age of 37, she obtained her GED and began a new career at the IRS. Then she was able retire from cleaning houses. She worked at the IRS for 27 years, from 1987 to 2014. She was a well-regarded employee. She clerked in different departments and was sought after. Managers would try to entice her to come work for them. She liked that feeling.
Whether at work, or in her private life, she was appreciated by her family, friends, clients, and fellow employees. She was a team player, helping at several church functions over the years wherever she attended.
You wouldn’t have known it if you met her after her Forties, but Phyllis stuttered. And she was teased because of it. She would smile and laugh though, unless you teased too much, then she would ask you to gggg…leave. She never stuttered when she sang, a fact she liked to point out (most people who stutter don’t when they sing.) She was happy to overcome it, but it took hard work, determination, and prayer.
Throughout her life, Phyllis was known to be funny, witty, compassionate, kind, and she loved to laugh. She never met a stranger…especially on the internet (Note: she fell prey to a few scams, but fortunately she didn’t lose too much money!)
Her love for Jesus and the Bible permeated her life, and she loved to pray and worship. She wrote her own songs and poems. She would try to get her brother, Doug, to help put music to them.
Family was very important to her. She often spoke of helping to raise her many nieces and nephews and form a special bond with each one of them. She was the glue, the “rockstar”, of the family. She kept up with her siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews. She loved family gatherings. She would love to be here today just to see all of you.
And that’s what will make Heaven all the more sweeter; that we will spend an eternity with her, with Him, never growing old, always rejoicing, growing in knowledge, and becoming more like her savior, our savior, Jesus Christ.
What’s your fondest memory of Phyllis?
What’s a lesson you learned from Phyllis?
Share a story where Phyllis' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Phyllis you’ll never forget.
How did Phyllis make you smile?
