Phyllis Loraine Keasling, 70, died Saturday, October 28, 2006 at her home in Hot Springs, SD.

Phyllis, the fifth child of Arthur James & Wilma Leona (Hunsley) Jones was born January 22, 1936 in Pierre, South Dakota.

Phyllis married Jerry Gortmaker in July of 1951, however this marriage ended in divorce. She was then married to James Carson in August of 1959 and they were divorced. Finally she was married to Chancey Denver Keasling from May 1967 to May 1985.

Through the years Phyllis lived and worked in Hot Springs. She ran the Snack Stand at the Evans Plunge, owned/operated the Kentuckian Café and worked along side Denver in the kitchen at the VA Hospital. In June of 1967 she and her three girls joined Denver in Fairfield, Iowa, where she worked at Harrison's Department Store, Gibson/Pamida and Fairfield Lumber Company. From January 1983 through January 1989 she owned/operated Phyl's Tap in Libertyville, Iowa. In September of 1990 Phyllis returned to Hot Springs to be near her late sisters, Pauline Nash and Marlene Jones.

While in Hot Springs she was employed at Dick & Mary's Super Value and the State Veterans Home. She spent numerous hours volunteering at the VA Hospital, State Veterans Home, VFW and American Legion. Phyllis was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary in Hot Springs, as well as a member of the Eagle's Auxiliary in Fairfield, Iowa.

Phyllis is survived by her three daughters, Audry Kay (Gary) Bondurant of Henderson, NV; Vicki Jo (Mike) Bolding of Las Vegas, NV; Connie Jean Davidson of Sugarland, TX; two brothers, Jack (Shirley) Jones of Nebraska; Larry Jones of California; three sisters, Beverly (Kenneth) Jennings of South Dakota; Helen Raber of Colorado; Ruby (Larry) Gooden of Montana; ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Alice M. Jones (infant); Pauline A. Nash; Marlene M. Jones; son, Jerry Allen Gortmaker; granddaughter, Sherrie Lynn Gortmaker; grandson, Jeremy Len Deon Gortmaker and son-in-law, Terry Alan McCreedy.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Thursday, November 2, 2006 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs, SD.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 am, Friday, November 3, 2006 at The United Churches in Hot Springs, SD with Pastor Morris Nelson officiating. Interment will be held at a later date.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs, SD. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.