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Phyllis Evelyn Lohman was born in 1918 in Hollister, CA to James Oral Braden and Eva Olive (Bryant) Braden. She joined one brother and two sisters and soon enough the family grew to two more sisters and one more brother. Raised in the Ballico area, Phyllis lost her mother in childbirth when she was 7 years old. Her newborn brother was taken and raised by their grandmother while her father continued to raise her, her four sisters, and her brother. Phyllis started Ballico Elementary School in 1925. Her brother would take them to school in a cart pulled by a pony, where all the kids would be waiting eagerly to pet it. While they attended classes, the pony would wait for them while he grazed in a nearby field. During her eight years there, she was active in track and volleyball. After graduating in 1933, she went on to attend Livingston High School, where she excelled at sports and was popular among the other students. Phyllis met the love of her life, Jim Lohman through her brother. At the age of 18, Phyllis married Jim on October 24, 1936. Three years later, they welcomed their first child, Jerry. Their family grew when Janice followed three years later and Kathy trailed behind six years later. In 1946, Jim and Phyllis purchased their farm in Ballico, where they farmed almonds. Together they worked in the field side-by-side harvesting almonds throughout the day and working the huller all night. They purchased a small vineyard on the corner of Pepper and North Ave. and, a few years later, purchased a 60 acre almond and peach farm in Winton. Phyllis helped harvest grapes, almonds and peaches, all while raising her children, cooking, canning dozens of jars filled with fruit, jam and jelly, and baking hundreds of cookies, cakes and pies. She was also active in PTA, where she received a life-time membership award and was a 4-H leader with Jim. Their marriage showed what 69 years of hard-work, compassion, and compromise could build. After their children were grown, Phyllis and Jim traveled extensively, visiting and taking in the sights of every state in the Union (except for Hawaii). Among their most memorable trips, they traveled for 6 weeks in their motor home to Alaska and went on several cruises. On her 90th birthday, Phyllis was finally able to visit Hawaii with her three children on a family cruise. Phyllis loved gardening and also adored baking pies (her homemade apple and lemon meringue pies will never be forgotten). She enjoyed many hours on the Houseboat on Lake Don Pedro with family and friends. A woman of faith, Phyllis put God above all else. She was a lifelong member of the Delhi Community Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star for the last 69 years and the last remaining member of a pinochle club of six couples who met once a month for dinner and a game of cards over the last 50 years. After celebrating her 100th Birthday this year, Phyllis passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, December 13, 2018 in Ballico, CA. She was surrounded by her loving family. Phyllis was reunited with her parents, her brothers and sisters, her husband, and her grandson, Scott McDonell. She leaves behind her son, Gerald (Wanda) Lohman; her daughters, Janice (Lewis) Carter and Kathleen (David) McDonell; her 9 grandchildren: Tim, Teri, Kathryn, Keith, Michelle, Ross, Jill, Karla and Nicole; 22 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, December 17th at Turlock Funeral Home (425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock). The Burial will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18th at Turlock Memorial Park (575 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock), with a Memorial service to follow at 2:30 p.m. at Turlock Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Phyllis’s name to the Delhi Community Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund at 15917 El Capitan Way, Delhi, CA 95315.

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Phyllis Evelyn Lohman

September 30, 1918 - December 13, 2018