Phyllis Irene Proctor

Phyllis Irene Proctor, daughter of the late William Leonard Hicks and Virgie Lucille (Clark) Hicks-Pamperien, was born July 10, 1943, in rural Mountain Grove. The Lord called her home on Sep. 10, 2026, in Springfield, following a sudden illness, at the age of 83. Phyllis grew up in the Mountain Grove area and attended the Lone Star School. She was united in marriage to Russell V. Driskell on July 23, 1960. Three sons were born to this union: Russell, Jeffery and Gerald. Phyllis held many jobs over the years that included working at Palmer Panther Freeze, Katz Department Store, Sears Roebuck, Mountain Grove Nursing Home, the original Walmart in Mountain Grove, in-home day-care service, and finally retiring from the current Walmart in Mountain Grove. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time drinking coffee on the porch, going to community picnics, and attending reunions. Phyllis had a great sense of humor and could usually be found wearing a smile. She was saved and baptized at a young age.  She enjoyed playing the piano, singing, attending church and listening to bluegrass and gospel music. Several years following the passing of her husband, Russell, she became friends with Lyman “Pete” Proctor. They began dating and eventually married on Nov. 9, 2012. Blending their families, Phyllis gained two more children and many more grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Phyllis and Pete enjoyed traveling and sharing good times together.
Besides her parents and first husband, Phyllis was preceded in death by one sister, Nadine (Ralph) Peck, and one brother, Steve Hicks. Phyllis is survived by her husband, Pete Proctor; children, Russell D. (Martha) Driskell, Jeffery Driskell, Gerald “Jerry” Driskell, Bryan (Tina) Proctor and Tonya (James) Tooley; one brother, Ronald (Mary) Hicks; one sister, Barbara (Alvin) Chandler; 13 grandchildren, Melissa (Jeremy) Vandivort, Emma (Tyler) Harrison, Logann (Jonathan) Skyles, Christopher Driskell, Kimberly (Dan) Coble, Paul Driskell, Jordain (Tommy) Martin, Nicholas (Ashtin) Driskell, Jordan Tooley, Emmalee Tooley, Rayna Tooley, Tristan Proctor and Delaney Proctor; 16 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; many other relatives and dear friends who will miss her greatly. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2026, in the Southside Baptist Church of Mountain Grove with Jared Moore officiating. Special songs were “Scars In Heaven,” “Far Side Banks of Jordan” by Kirby Clark and “Lead Me Home.” Kimon Vandivort, Bryer Harrison, Christopher Driskell, Nicholas Driskell, Jordan Tooley and Paul Driskell served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Caroline Vandivort, Graham Skyles, Paisleigh Driskell, Madelyn Coble, Zoey Martin, Hoyt Martin, Hunter Martin, Chaseten Martin, Jasmine Martin, Canaan Driskell and Asa Driskell. Burial was in the Eaton Cemetery, Ozark County, under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.