Obituaries

Phyllis Ann Causley, age 77, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, went to be with the Lord on November 17, 2024, at Medilodge in Sault Ste. Marie. She was born on November 11, 1947, in Sault Ste. Marie, to Edward and Mabel (Stone) Downs.

Phyllis grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and attended Sault High School and was a part of the First Free Methodist Church family. She worked various jobs until she found her true calling as a Certified Nurse Assistant for twenty-two years at Tendercare in Sault Ste. Marie. She always gave her all when it came to loving and caring for her patients and mentoring new hires.

Phyllis and her husband, Jerry, enjoyed traveling and spending time with extended family and friends in Lansing, Michigan, and Hessel, Michigan, and it was no surprise to see them attend sporting events cheering on the younger generations. Phyllis had much pride in her children, Christine and Kirk, and often shared stories about them with others. When they reached a new goal, she encouraged them to strive to do their best and would ask, “What’s next?”. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Sunday dinners brought her so much joy, and she always saved room for dessert and a competitive game of cards. She enjoyed celebrating each holiday, especially Christmas, where decorations could be found throughout the house. Phyllis was crafty and made a lot of Care Bears for those she loved. If you went to her house more than once, you were considered family.

Phyllis is survived by her children, Christine (Mark) Groh of Sault Ste. Marie and Kirk (Heather Selling) Downs of Fowlerville, Michigan; grandchildren, Brittany (Dan) Bartley, Allyse (Aaron) Diepenherst, Malcom X. Downs, Tanecia (Arnie) Hallai, Jayden Nippers and Trey Pyette; great-grandchildren, Audrey, Carter, Emerson, Xaundra, Ada, Amelia, Amira, and Adonis; special great niece who was her sidekick, Taylor Causley; “adoptive’ granddaughter, Mariah (Caleb) McKerchie; siblings, Ken (Joann) Downs, Ron (Karen) Downs, Sandra Geatches, Dennis (Pansy) Downs; in-laws, Dave Broten, John (Patty) Causley, Dalinda Brissette, Jeff (Connie) Causley, and Deb Causley; and many loved nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Causley; parents, Edward and Mabel; in-laws, John (Lorraine) Causley; siblings, Shirley Downs, Judith (Bob) Miller, Edward (Shirley) Downs Jr., Betty (Wayne) Bumgardner, Margaret (Tom) Horton, Beverly (Fred) Logan, Carla Downs, Paula Broten, and Lorraine Fyke, Ron Geatches, Daryl Causley, Jim Causley and Donald Causley.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM with a luncheon to follow at the First Free Methodist Church, 505 W. 4th Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.

Phyllis’s final resting place will be Our Lady of the Snows, 261 S. Islandview Rd., Hessel, MI 49745. Burial will be in the late Spring of 2025.

Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.