Sylva "Maxine" Phares

Sylva “Maxine” (Needham) Phares, 76, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away October 28, 2024, at Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Maxine was born Sunday, November 16, 1947, in Ottawa, Kansas, the daughter of Max Calvin and Barbara June (Phillips) Needham.

She grew up in Lane, Kansas, and attended school at the Lane School until her junior year of high school. It was then that the schools consolidated and Maxine attended her senior year and graduated from Richmond High School. After high school, she moved to Ottawa and lived with her great grandparents and began working at Hallmark.

On may 10, 1968, Maxine was united in marriage with Earl “Craig” Phares. This marriage was blessed with two children, Tammi and Bryan. She left Hallmark to become a homemaker and full-time mom. Even though Craig and Maxine later divorced, they continued to share the love of their children.

Maxine worked various jobs throughout the years, but her passion was being a crafter. She enjoyed making needlepoint patchwork pillows, cross stitching, and making all kinds of things out of her yoyo circles. She loved a good garage sale and auctions. For many years, she raised bunnies and continued her love for them. She never met a stranger and could talk to anyone she met like they had always been friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a stillborn brother LeRoy Needham; and Craig Phares.

Survivors include daughter Tammi Phares of Ottawa, Kansas; son Bryan Phares (Chris) of Ottawa, Kansas; and granddaughter Violet. Other survivors include sister Cherry Chrisjohn (John) of Lane, Kansas; aunts Norma Jenkins of Louisburg, Kansas and Delores Needham of Ottawa, Kansas; niece; nephew; great nieces and nephews; and many cousins.

Cremation is planned with an inurnment being held 10:30am, November 8, 2024, at Lane Cemetery, Franklin County, Kansas.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association or Prairie Paws Animal Shelter c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.