Phyllis Krieger
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Phyllis Krieger, 77, of Cambria and formerly of Golconda and Harrisburg, left this Earth on Sunday, July 19, 2009 surrounded by her family at the home of her daughter, Janet Burk, in Carterville.
It was the wishes of the family to cremate Phyllis and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Riggin-Pillatsch and Burke Funeral Home in Carterville is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, 204 Halfway Road, Marion, Ill. 62959.
Phyllis was born the seventh of seven children on July 4, 1932, in St. Louis on Broadway to William A. and Mary Louise (Davis) Krieger. She married George T. Simmons of Golconda and had two daughters, Janet and Susan.
After moving to Pope County with her family as a teenager, she began a long love affair with horses. At the age of 18, she rode competitively in horse shows, winning many blue ribbons and had the ability to work a horse.
After several years away, she returned to the farm in Pope County, where she raised sheep, cows, chickens, horses and her two daughters. She remained on the farm until 1992, after which she moved to Saline County with her daughter, Susan, and in 2006 she moved to Williamson County to live near her daughter, Janet.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and David L. Burk of Carterville and Susan and Sam Neal of Harrisburg; 10 grandchildren, Jason Hobbs of Herrin, Alan Burk of Chicago, Justin Shelby, U.S. Navy, currently stationed in Hawaii, Kelly and Tyler Cook, both of Carterville, Matt and Jocelyn Shelby, both of Harrisburg, Kyle Shelby, Michael Shelby, and Dalton Etheridge, all of Harrisburg; seven great-grandchildren, Blaine Burk, Megan Cook, Kaydence Cook and Landon Cook, all of Carterville, Wyatt Shelby, Hillary Shelby, and Isabella Shelby, all of Harrisburg; sister, Oneita Swinford of Golconda; and many family members across the nation who will always carry in their hearts special memories of their mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin and friend.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Hillary Shelby; three brothers, William, Raymond, and Elbert Krieger; and two sisters, Ethel Beck and Mildred Whitted.
She was raised Lutheran and her faith in Jesus Christ never faltered.
Phyllis loved life, her family, quilting, gardening, crocheting, cross stitching, reading and sewing. There was nothing Phyllis could not do with her hands.
She will be sadly missed by all those who knew and loved her. To view this obituary and sign the guest register, you may visit the Internet site www.rigginpillatschburkefh.com.