Phyllis Arlene Rakes

Phyllis Arlene Rakes, age 78, a longtime resident of Aurora, Colorado, passed away peacefully with family around her on Thursday January 16, 2025. 

Phyllis was born August 29, 1946 in Aurora, Illinois. She was the fifth of six children born to Floyd and Olive Bragg.

She attended Kansas City College and Bible School in Overland Park, KS, where she met her husband, Ed Rakes. They were married in August of 1966 and raised 4 sons. Early in their marriage, Phyllis was drawn into a career in health care. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Nursing from the University of Colorado in 1974. Phyllis enjoyed the variety of jobs that a nursing career offered, including Med/Surg, Critical Care, Post Anesthesia Recovery, and Day surgery until her retirement in 2014.

Phyllis loved to travel and enjoyed many memorable trips with her sister Ruth. They were globetrotters, enjoying Hawaii, Australia/New Zealand, Alaska, Ireland/England, a Mediterranean cruise, a Caribbean cruise which included going through the Panama Canal, and many stateside trips, from Washington to Florida. One of her favorite trips was being able to take her mother Olive, along with her sisters Ruth, Sylvia, and Esther, to France, a dream of her mother’s, as it was her family’s homeland.

Phyllis enjoyed gardening, canning, making jams and jellies from her garden's bounty, growing African violets, going to the movies, and taking trips to the mountains and knitting. She loved quilting. Purple was her favorite color, and was displayed in her quilts and the many pieces of antique glassware she enjoyed collecting.

Phyllis’s love for the Lord and her family was unwavering. This is what she lived for the most.

Phyllis is survived by her husband Ed, sons Gene(Gwenda), Kelly(Amy), Matthew(Kat), and Benjamin(Tammy Jo), grandsons Joshua, Levi, Dimitri, and Soren, and her sisters Sylvia, Ruth, and brother Evan. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Olive and her sisters Esther and Shirley.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, February 8th at 10:30am at Tower Community Fellowship in Aurora, officiated by Reverend Ed Belzer.