Phyllis McClarnon

Phyllis McClarnon, 104, of Carthage, passed away Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at her residence. Phyllis was born Phyllis Rhodes on October 8, 1917 in Carthage.

She went to Carthage High School and went to work at the Container Corporation of America when she was 16 years old in 1933. This was during the Depression and she joined her sister, Ruth Rhodes Hunt, in the office.

Phyllis married Ralph McClarnon and they lived on Third Street across from the Methodist Church until they bought a house at 14 South Main. She still resided there with loving care by Shelle Richmond.

Phyllis worked at the Container Corporation as private secretary to Paul Siegler and retired in the mid 1980s. She and Ralph opened The Blue Door Antique Store after retirement in the old Dr. McNabb office which is now torn down. After her husband died she became the clerk treasurer for the Town of Carthage for several years, learning to drive at age 73. This was before the internet and she said “those records aren’t going to get themselves down to Rushville” so she drove them. Bill Alexander gave her driving lessons.

Phyllis and Ralph liked to vacation by car and fulfilled their lifelong love of antiques. They loved Vermont, Maine and especially Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Her long life is amazing and she has outlived her siblings by many years. They were Ruth Hunt, Rosemary Duke and Guy Rhodes. Her only living relative is her niece, Pamela Hunt.

Services will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service Knightstown Chapel. Burial will follow in Glen Cove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:30 PM until time of service. Condolences and memories of Phyllis may be shared at www.hinsey-brown.com .