Phyllis Ann Burt

Phyllis Burt, aged 89, of Plainfield, Indiana, joyfully received her ticket home to see Jesus and her loving husband on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 8:50 AM, passing peacefully from Life’s Journey Hospice into her new eternal life.

A Legacy of Faith and Love

Born on May 3, 1937, in Muncie, Indiana, Phyllis was the eldest of six children born to the late Dimp and Alta Hobbs. She spent her life devoted to the three loves of her life: God, her family, and doing for others.

For 62 wonderful years, she was married to the love of her life, Howard Burt. Their romance began through letters, during which Phyllis spent a good amount of time trying to figure out if his name was Howard Burt or Burt Howard—but she knew without a doubt he was the one. Coming from Indiana herself, while Howard hailed from Mississippi and they met in Arkansas, they adopted the motto to always "meet in the middle," a principle that beautifully guided their decades of marriage.

As a dedicated Pastor’s wife, Phyllis served alongside Howard in ministries across four states, notably serving for decades as his solo singer during their travels. She was a long-time member of the Abundant Life House of Mercy in Danville, Indiana, and was passionately involved in Kingdom work, including many dedicated years at the Indiana District Campground and evangelizing nationwide.

A Vibrant Spirit

Phyllis was a woman of many talents and immense resilience; her family lovingly believes she holds the world record for the most broken bones in a single lifetime. She was Howard’s #1 handyman, helping him with every aspect of their rental properties—save for the electrical work. An avid reader, she also found great joy in the simple pleasures of canning, sewing, and cooking.

Her family was her absolute world, and her face lit up with pure joy whenever one of them walked into the room. She adored being a grandmother and took great pride in passing down her traditions. In fact, she is solely responsible for the coffee addiction of her family's younger generations, having introduced them to her "special" coffee starting as young as four years old.

Family Left to Cherish Her Memory

Phyllis is survived by her daughters: Shirley Chappell and Kathy (Frank Shadbolt) Smith; siblings: Michael (Pam) Hobbs, Brenda Cox, and Denny (Linda) Hobbs; grandchildren: Jeremy (Megan) Mullinix, Rebecca (Mark) Coffey, Jessica (Deacon) Smith, and Stephanie (Rodney) Chappell; great & great-great-grandchildren: 13 precious great-grandchildren and 6 adored great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Howard Burt; her parents, Dimp & Alta Hobbs; her son-in-law, Darrell Chappell; her granddaughter, Michelle (Chappell) Dickerson ; and her brothers, Jack and Dave Hobbs

"To always meet in the middle."

Phyllis’s bright spirit, unwavering faith, and beautiful voice will be deeply missed but forever celebrated by all who were blessed to know her.

A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at Abundant Life - The House of Mercy, 1003 W. Lincoln Street, Danville, Indiana. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to service time. Phyllis will be laid to rest the next day, Friday, May 29, 2026 at Noon in the Merom Cemetery in Merom, Indiana.