- Date Of Birth: January 4, 1928
- Date Of Death: June 8, 2019
- State: Illinois
Phyllis Riordan, 91, of Ottawa, died on Saturday morning, June 8, at Pleasant View. Phyllis was born on Jan. 4, 1928, in Ottawa to Delbert and Viola (Corrigan) Mayou.
She was a graduate of St. Xavier Academy and Marycrest College. She was a school teacher, teaching first at Grand Ridge Grade School, and later in the Ottawa Elementary Schools. She was President of Mayou Roofing Co., Inc. She married Jay J. Riordan on June 16, 1951, at St. Columba Church. She was a member of St. Columba Church, the Altar and Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters of America, Zetema, Community Hospital of Ottawa Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Deer Park Country Club, and the Ottawa Boat Club. She held a Private Pilot’s License for many years and is believed to be the first woman in Illinois to receive her pilot’s license before her driver’s license. She flew her own plane to and from college in Davenport. Phyllis loved traveling the world over. She spent the past 40 years during the winters in Sarasota, Florida, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Her most cherished moments in life were spent with family and friends.
Phyllis is survived by one daughter, Debra (Gary) Turner, of Ottawa, her daughter-in-law, Pam Riordan, of Ottawa, 2 grandchildren, Kyle (Skylar) Turner, of Spokane, Washington, and Kacie Riordan, of Lafayette, Colorado, and 2 great-grandchildren: Owen and Holland Riordan, and their mother, Katie Riordan, of Ottawa. She was preceded in death by her husband Jay, in 1997, her son, Tim, a grandson, Bryan J. (Katie) Riordan, and a special friend Dr. Don Nickerson.
