Phyllis Iona Banta Green Applegarth

November 30, 1934 ~ April 26, 2009

Phyllis Iona Banta Green Applegarth, age 74, passed away April 26, 2009 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Moab, UT, from lung cancer.

She was born November 30, 1934 to Cecil and Myrtle Crandell Banta at Molina, Mesa County, CO. She was the oldest of six children.

By the age of five, Phyllis could ride a horse and spent her early years helping her parent raise sheep at places she called Coffee Pot Mountain and Sugar Creek, near Debeque, CO.

During this time, she spent many hours exploring on her horse Scout, and slept out under the stars with her siblings. They spent many a cold, wet night in the rain, but it was a happy time for her.

She attended school up to the eighth grade and then went to work full time. At age 18, she obtained work as a telephone operator, a job she was quite proud of.

On December 3, 1955, she married Verle L. Green in Palisade, CO. To this union were born two boys: Verle Kent and Kelly Mike Green.

She suffered a stroke at the age of 21 and never regained full use of her right arm, leg, and speech. She used words rather than sentences to communicate and would put a “Yes” after each statement. Those trying to communicate with her were often not sure if she really meant yes or no.

Despite these physical challenges, she always managed to make herself understood. She liked to hunt for arrowheads, plant flowers, bake bread, and watch westerns and soaps on the TV. Most of all, she loved her grandchildren, often commenting that they were, “Cuute[sic], yes.”

Although not a member of any organized religion, she had a deep love for her Savior Jesus Christ. “Oh faithful, yes.”

She and Verle divorced in 1976, and in 1982, she married Burl (Andy) Applegarth, who was the joy of her life. She and Andy only had a few short years together before he developed Alzheimer’s disease.

During this time, they traveled to many places with him driving and her navigating (a scary thought), but somehow they always made it to where they were headed.

They also enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. She would get excited whenever WWWrestling came on. She liked the guys with the big muscles and Hulk Hogan was one of her favorites.

She was always polite and thanked the nurses at the hospital even when they brought her yucky medicine, which she “hated yes.”

She is preceded in death by her brother Mike, her parents, and both husbands.

She is survived by her sons Kent (Cricket) and Kelly (Julie) Green of Moab; grandchildren Joshua (Kelly), Verle, AmAsie (Peter), Austena (Shawn), and Catherine (Chad); great-grandchildren Christopher and Landon; siblings Tom, Donna, Linda, and JoAnne (Chet); nieces Michelle, Dani, and Angie; nephews Shawn, Kevin, Jay, and Timmy; and also many community nursing workers and Rock Ridge Apartment seniors, who were like family to her.

Special appreciation and thanks to Aubrey-Anna Brewer and Ariahna Groesbeck who cared for her like a grandma, Kimmerle-Hefner Funeral Home, Vonda Louthan and Ron Olsen at Rockridge Senior Apartments, Joey Allred and staff at Active Re-Enrty, Yvonne Bliss, Marilyn O”Reilly and other staff at Community Nursing, Dr. Rouzer and “Dr. Jolley,” and the staff and nurses at Allen Memorial Hopsital who gave her great care and much love during her final hours.

Funeral services were Saturday, May 2, 2009. Interment in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Moab.

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