Obituaries

Phyllis Carol (Woodring) Yates, 91, died on May 15, 2026 in Florence, KY. She was born March 2, 1935 in Rineyville, KY, the youngest child of Samuel and Nora (Dillard) Woodring.

Phyllis graduated from Rineyville High School, where she forged lifelong friendships. After high school she worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C. as a member of J. Edgar Hoover’s secretarial pool, and later was a familiar smiling face at many retail establishments in Florence, including McDonald’s, Toys R Us and Kohl’s.

She met her husband, Jim, when they both returned to Rineyville, she from Washington, D.C. and he from the Korean War. They married in 1957 and lived in several Kentucky towns, including Lexington, Mt. Sterling, Louisville, Bardstown and Florence. They spent 10 years enjoying life in The Villages in Florida before moving to Union, KY.

A top-notch hostess and cook, Phyllis welcomed everyone to her home and table. She enjoyed any and all card and board games, baby animals, a good joke, singing, crafting and golf.

Phyllis will be most remembered for lifelong volunteer service, including Lions Clubs in both Florence and The Villages, the former Maplewood Children’s Home in Burlington and the Wildwood (Florida) Soup Kitchen, where she created eagerly anticipated meals as the Friday kitchen manager.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, James Yates; her children Beverly Yates (Rennie Zapp), Jim (Vicky) Yates and Phillip (Jane) Yates; two grandsons, Shawn (Aly) Yates and Kevin (Felicia Ford) Yates; beloved great-grandchildren Elias and Ember Yates; and her sister Betty Lou (Wendell) Smith.

She was preceded in death by three brothers; Edgar Hardin, Norman and Lewis Woodring; sister Grace (Wiliam) McGaughey; and a sister and brother who died at birth, Iris and Dillard Woodring.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Thursday, May 21 at Stith Funeral Home, 7500 U.S. Highway 42, Florence, KY, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Private burial will follow at the Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery in Radcliff, KY.

In lieu of flowers, Phyllis asked that donations be made to your local food bank or soup kitchen.