Mary Phelps

Phelps, Mary E.
STOUGHTON - Mary Ellen Phelps, age 84, passed away peacefully on Saturday Sept. 8, 2011 at her home in Stoughton after a brief battle with cancer.
Mary was born March 6, 1927 in Hillsboro Illinois, the eldest daughter of Homer and Edith Attebery. Mary grew up on the family farm outside of Hillsboro and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1942. At 15 years of age she was one of the youngest students ever to attend the University of Illinois in Champaign, studying music and chemistry. Mary graduated from U of I with a chemistry degree in 1946 and began her career as a chemist at the Firestone Tire Company in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
On March 6, 1948 Mary married Robert L. Phelps in Hillsboro, Illinois. The couple was blessed with the birth of a daughter, Susan, in 1950 and the family moved to Delavan, Wisconsin in 1951. In 1954, their twin sons, Robert and William were born. While raising her children in Delavan, Mary was active in many civic organizations, worked at the public library and served for a number of years on the Delavan School Board. Mary was an accomplished pianist and accompanied many Delavan music students in competition.
In 1972 she returned to her chemistry career, working in Hector DeLuca's Biochemistry Lab at the University of Wisconsin. Mary and her husband moved to Stoughton in 1974, and Mary continued working as a biochemist in the DeLuca lab for over 20 years. Mary was an avid reader, crossword puzzle enthusiast, and had a very active interest in current events and politics. She and her husband enjoyed traveling and were able to take many trips, both around the country and abroad, including trips to Africa, Central America and many countries in Europe.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, and her daughter, Dr. Susan Kaehler. She is survived by her sons, Robert (Cathy Ellis), Stoughton, and William (Bonnie), Oregon; her loving grandsons, Auden Kaehler (Elizabeth), Leeds England, Sam and Joe Phelps, Oregon, loving granddaughter Bettie Phelps, Oregon; sisters Barbara Scott (John), Champaign, IL and Catherine Edminston, Abingdon, IL; and special dear friends, Rebecca and Al Olson, Stoughton.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00 pm, Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, at the Cress Funeral Home, Stoughton, where family will greet friends from 3:00 pm until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Heifer International aid organization.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
206 W Prospect Ave Stoughton 608-873-9244
Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com