Phyllis Jean Smith Madden, 85, of Royalton, IL died November 17, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, MO following a brief illness.

Phyllis was born July 15, 1936 in Murphysboro, IL to John and Thelma (Coad) Smith, who preceded her in death when Phyllis was a child. Phyllis and her sister, Carolyn, were then raised by their aunt and uncle, Ruby Smith Acker and Cecil Acker in Herrin, IL who took great care of the two girls and loved them dearly as their own. Phyllis married Greg Madden in 1956 and he preceded her in death on December 28, 1998. To this union were born three children, John Weldon Madden, who survives in Royalton, IL, Laura Madden VanTine, who survives in Peoria, IL, and Jeffrey Lynn  Madden, who preceded his mother in death on October 29, 2009.

In addition to her son and daughter, Phyllis is survived by her daughter-in-law, Kim VanTine of Peoria; IL; grandchildren Courtney Madden of Royalton, IL, Tiffany Madden of Indianapolis, IN and Beth Hammonds of Herrin, IL; two great-grandchildren, Dahlia and Finn Jay of Royalton, IL; family friend Pam Stout of Royalton, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

Her first job was working at Smoler Brothers in Herrin for many years. She and her family then moved to Florida where Phyllis worked at a Publix grocery store in Kissimmee, FL for ten years.  She and her family lived in Florida for 20 years before they returned to Southern Illinois.A devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, Phyllis rarely missed a Cardinals game on television and even attended some games in St. Louis. She also loved to bowl and spent many years participating in bowling leagues in Herrin. She once scored a perfect 300 game while bowling on a league team. In addition to sports, Phyllis also loved to go fishing and camping, and going on car rides with her family and friends. Phyllis loved spending time with her family and taking care of the many dogs she had as pets through the years. Her family remembers her as someone who never met a stranger and loved to sit in the swing on her front porch and talk to friends and neighbors.

In addition to her parents, husband and aunt and uncle who raised her, Phyllis was preceded in death by two sisters, Carolyn Ann Smith O’Brien and Doris Gerdes; three brothers, John W. “Jack” Smith, Robert “Bobby” Smith, Charles Monroe Smith; several brothers and sisters who died in infancy; and numerous aunts and uncles. She also was preceded in death by her dear friend, Lil Snyder, just one day before Phyllis passed away.

Per her wishes, Phyllis was cremated. A celebration of her life will be held by family and friends at a later date.