Margaret N. Phillips, 85, of Sycamore, Illinois, formerly of Bowen, passed away at 11:15 AM Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at the McDonough District Hospital in Macomb.

Margaret was born June 28, 1934, in Bowen, Illinois, the daughter of Glenn and F. Carlene (McGinnis) Phillips.  She attended Bowen High School graduating in 1952.  She then went on to receive her B.S. in Home Economics at Western Illinois University, her Master’s Degree at the University of Illinois and later did graduate work at Colorado State University.  Margaret had taught vocational home economics at Carthage, Annawan and Fox Lake Schools.  She then worked thirty-eight years at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb as head of housing retiring in 1994.  Margaret kept close ties with the Carthage High School class of 1961.   Active in her community she was a member of the DeKalb Women’s Club, Sycamore-DeKalb Alumnae Panhellic and the First United Methodist Church of De Kalb.  Margaret was active in Eastern Star serving as Past Matron of the Dustin Chapter, Grand Organist in 1993 and had been appointed Grand Representative of Montana and Quebec. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Nile in Rockford.  Margaret loved politics and was a member of the DeKalb County Republican Women, Republican Central Committee and Precinct Committeemen.  In 2019 Margaret was recognized as an Honoree at the ATHENA Women of Accomplishment reception held at Northern Illinois University.

Margaret is survived by her sister, Glenadene (Larry) Webster of Bowen, Illinois; nephews, Jon (Marsha) Webster and Tom (Karen) Webster; a niece, Jane (Bruce) Suddeth; one cousin, Ronald McClelland; a cousin-in-law, Karol McClelland; and several great nieces and nephews; and one great great niece.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a cousin, Larry McClelland.

Private graveside services will be held at the Bowen Cemetery in Bowen, Illinois.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church of De Kalb.  Printy Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.