Phyllis Bayer

Phyllis Grace Bayer, 85, of East Moline (formerly of Moline and Manito, IL), died Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 at Genesis Medical Center-Silvis. A public memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11:30am at Maas Hurley Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington St., Manito, IL. A celebration of her life and luncheon will be held immediately following the service at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 501 S. Adams St., Manito. She was born Phyllis Grace House on June 28, 1931 to Guy and Grace (Hill) House in Osceola, IL. She attended Toulon High School where she sang in the choir and played the saxophone. Phyllis fell in love with a young man from rival Wyoming High School and she and Donald Cutler Bayer were married on Jan. 21, 1951 in Osceola. The couple raised 3 children after relocating to Manito where they lived for over 40 years. Phyllis was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and was thrilled to see their World Series victory in 2016, staying up late to watch most games. She was also an enthusiastic horse racing fan and always hoped for a good showing from the fillies in Triple Crown races. She loved springtime so she could hunt for morels, traversing Illinois and Iowa with her family for prime hunting locations. She attended Community United Methodist Church while living in Manito and, upon moving to The Quad Cities in 1998, attended Homewood Evangelical Free Church in Moline. Phyllis cherished being with her loved ones more than anything: she especially enjoyed watching her grandsons grow up and spending time with her great-grandchildren in her later years. Her kind heart, humor, and touch of stubbornness endeared her to everyone she met. Surviving are her son, Larry (Charla) Bayer of Moline; daughter, Paula Bayer of Pekin; grandson, Christopher (Lindsay) Bayer of Galesburg; grandson, Paul (Michelle) Bayer of Morton; and two great-grandchildren, Stella Grace (given her middle name in honor of her great-grandmother) and James. She was preceded in death by her husband (2009); son, Russell "Rusty" Bayer (1975); and brothers, Quentin House (2009) and Arnold House (2015). The family has asked, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to organizations that Phyllis faithfully supported and admired: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or EasterSeals of Central Illinois.

Phyllis Bayer

June 28, 1931 - January 30, 2017

Explore Obituaries &
Upcoming Services