Phyllis A. Johnson
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Phyllis A. Johnson, 84, of Chandler, Arizona passed away peacefully on May 15, 2023 after enduring a long, late-life battle with a rare muscle disease called inclusion body myositis.
Phyllis was born April 11, 1939 in Marquette, Mich., the daughter of Charles and Mable (Perkins) Sherbinow. She graduated from Graveraet High School in 1957. Phyllis was united in marriage to Richard Johnson on August 10, 1957 in Marquette, Mich. The couple relocated to Gladstone, Mich. in 1960 to raise a family and run the Lake Shore Apartments. In 1977 the family relocated to Arizona so that Richard and Phyllis could enjoy the desert’s warmth with friends from childhood. However, they always cherished and maintained lifelong relationships with their friends and relatives in Michigan and Wisconsin too.
Phyllis was a full-time homemaker and raised three children. She enjoyed estate sales, collecting Victorian antiques, entertaining on holidays, browsing through hundreds of cookbooks for new recipes and reading paperback novels rather than watching TV. Phyllis was fond of her teatime with friends at Starbucks. She was sharp-witted with a healthy touch of stubbornness. She actively engaged with and entertained her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a devoted member of St. Clements Roman Catholic Church for many years.
Phyllis is survived by her two sons, Randy (April) Johnson of Houston, Texas and Kurt (Karen) Johnson of Chandler, Ariz.; one daughter, Laura (Steve) Kaiblinger of Chandler, Ariz.; sister, Theresa Andresen of Marquette, Mich.; seven grandchildren, Tara (James Louisell) Johnson, Rhett (Amy) Johnson, Felicia (Craig) Jeffery Amber (Jake) Bundesmann, Abriella Johnson, Zachary Kaiblinger, Ariel (Cody) Rowe; and seven great grandchildren, Ellie, Emery, Isabella, Brett, Beau, Poppy and Benji. She loved and was close to many of her nieces and nephews who called her Aunt Cookie for her love of sweets.
In addition to her parents, Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Richard; brother, Chuck Sherbinow; and sister, Hazel Cardoni. She will finally be at peace joining her husband of nearly 65 years so that they can extend it to eternity.
Private services will be held in Chandler, Ariz. with assistance from Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery. Donations can be directed in memory of Phyllis to The Myositis Association at www.myositis.org. You are welcome to visit www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com to leave a message of condolence to the family.