Phyllis Jean Cady

October 22nd, 1940 – May 9th, 2026

Phyllis Cady of Maumee, OH was called home to the Lord on May 9th, 2026 after a decade-long battle with dementia. Born October 22nd, 1940 to Harry and Rachel (Birchfield) Mann at a coal miner’s camp in Kilsythe, WV, Phyllis was the third of four siblings. She grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of central West Virginia until age twelve when her parents relocated to Toledo, OH in hopes of better career opportunities for her father, who had been a coal miner all his life. Life was difficult for a poor Appalachian family trying to create roots in a new place, and Phyllis often recalled how much of a hindrance her thick accent was while trying to adapt to Northern ways of life; an accent which never fully faded and that we will remember fondly. She was an honors graduate of Whitmer High School in 1958, and went on to marry Carl “Tony” Cady of Toledo, OH on August 30th, 1960. They were blessed with three boys: Jeff, Ron and Terry. Phyllis was among the first employees of W.T. Grant Co. at Miracle Mile, then spent the majority of her adult career with Osterman Jewelers. She worked there for over 25 years, working her way up to Credit Manager and overseeing numerous locations until her retirement. Phyllis and Tony resided in Maumee, OH for over 50 years until his passing in 2015.

Phyllis had many qualities that made her so special to us. She was incredibly handy, and could tinker with or fix any problem placed before her. She was a big history buff with a special interest in our family genealogy, racking up dozens of binders tracing our bloodline; emphasizing the importance of knowing where and what we came from. She had a known obsession with sweets, including oatmeal cream pies, black raspberries and virtually anything chocolate. She was a devout Christian, serving as a Sunday School teacher at Calvary Assembly in Maumee, OH, and later was a cherished member of Calvary Bible Chapel in Toledo, OH. Phyllis loved spending summers back in WV at her second home which she shared with her sister Shirley. Affectionately known as “the Palace”, she had many fond memories up on War Ridge Mountain and enjoyed hosting her loved ones for gas station chicken, cookouts, thrifting and long talks among the fireflies underneath the evening Appalachian sky. Most importantly, Phyllis cherished her family; whose needs and wishes were her top priority. She had a way of creating magic out of very little, and poured her heart into her children and grandchildren, who will miss her deeply.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Rachel (Birchfield) Mann; brothers Edgel and Edward Mann; husband Carl “Tony” Cady; brother-in-law Ray Mowery; dear friend Tom Root; many cherished dogs whom she treated as children; and her loving son, Jeff, who she dreamed of reuniting with someday. She is survived by her sister, Shirley Mowery; two of her sons, Ron (Christine) and Terry Cady; her three grandchildren, Jordan (Matthew) Wilcox, Jacob and Joel Cady; dear friends Mary Ann Root and Cherie Geisler; many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends; and her soon-to-be first great-grandchild, Lucas Paul Wilcox, who is due in September and will always know what an incredible great-grandmother he had.

Family and friends can gather on Friday, May 15th from 10:00am-12:00pm with a funeral service to follow at Walter Funeral Home: 4653 Glendale Ave, Toledo, OH 43614. Funeral procession and burial will take place at 1:00pm at Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery: 6382 Monroe St, Sylvania, OH 43560. There will also be a luncheon for all who wish to attend beginning at 2:30pm at Calvary Bible Chapel: 3740 W Alexis Rd, Toledo, OH 43623. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Christian Appalachian Project at www.christianapp.org in Phyllis’ name.

“Almost Heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze…”

-Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)