Phyllis Marie Ayala

Phyllis Ayala, age 85, of Albia, passed away on September 1, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton. Phyllis was born May 14, 1938, to Claude and Olive (Mosby) Forgy in Albia, Iowa. She grew up and graduated from the Albia High School with the Class of 1957. On September 26, 1964, she was united in marriage to Daniel Richard Ayala in Kansas City, Missouri. To this union two children were born, Richard and Aaron. Phyllis and Dan shared 52 years of marriage before Dan’s passing on October 24, 2016. Phyllis worked as an airline stewardess for American Airlines, where she met her husband, Dan. She returned to Albia and worked for the Albia Newspaper office as a proofreader and secretary. She then worked as a librarian aide for the Albia Library and later the Knoxville Library. Lastly, she worked at Monroe County Hospital and Clinics in record keeping. Phyllis was very strong in her faith and was a member of the First Christian Church in Albia. She enjoyed doing crafts, especially plastic canvas. She enjoyed going to the casino with friends and family. She also enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together and reading westerns, mysteries and romance novels. Phyllis loved traveling with her husband, Dan. Her true joy in life was spending time with her family and friends. Phyllis is survived by her son, Aaron (Lacey) Ayala; a grandson, Marcus Ayala; a sister, Martha Ostreko and a brother, Lyle (Donna) Forgy. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and her good friends, Virginia Sheldon, Joe Pistek, Kathy Johnson, and Dale Stewart. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan; her parents, Claude and Olive; a son, Richard Ayala; a brother-in-law, Bill Ostreko; and her good friend, Susan Allison. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Phyllis’s family present to greet family and friends. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 7, 2023, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Pastor John Sowers officiating. Following services Phyllis will be cremated and private family burial will be held at a later date. Memorials have been established to the Monroe County EMTs, the Monroe County Fire Department, and the Leisure Lounge in Albia.

Phyllis Marie Ayala

May 14, 1938 - September 1, 2023