Phyllis Shepley

Phyllis Mary Shepley, 91, of Harrisburg, passed away on September 12, 2023 in Columbia Cottage Linglestown. She was born October 3, 1931 in Verdilla, Snyder County, PA to the late John Bigelow Crissman and Myrtle Mae Treaster Crissman, the youngest of eleven children. Phyllis graduated from Selinsgrove High School in 1949. She then went on to work for Bell of Pennsylvania, first as a Telephone Operator and later in the office of the Telephone Pioneers. She retired from The Bell with 34 years of service.
Phyllis loved donating her time and was active in the community her entire life. She was a former Chapter President of the Telecom Pioneer #7, a former County President of the PA Federations of Women''s Club and a former President of Susquehanna Golden Age Club. In 2019 Phyllis received the Vonnie Kain Lifetime Volunteer Recognition Award for her 25+ years of service to Community General Osteopathic Hospital. Phyllis was also instrumental in starting the Hug-A-Bear program over 35 years ago, sewing bears for hospitals, fire departments and ambulances around the area to pass out to children or anyone in need of comfort. She transitioned to heaven with a Hug-A-Bear in her arms.
Phyllis is survived by her loving daughter Heather Reso and her husband Stephen, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 25 years William Mazlokas, her second husband of 32 years Richard Shepley, her brothers Kenneth Crissman, Fred Crissman, Charles Crissman, her sisters Grace Hockenbrocht, Helen Bollinger, Evelyn Willow, Louise Shope, Jean Sheaffer, Dorothy Breon and Ruth Young.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday September 20, 2023 at 11:00am at Crosspoint United Methodist Church, 430 Colonial Road, Harrisburg PA 17109 with Rev. Dave Biser officiating. A visitation will be held on Wednesday directly before from 10:00am to 11:00am. Burial will be held in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at 1:00pm. Arrangements by Wiedeman Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Oberlin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Crosspoint United Methodist Church, 430 Colonial Road, Harrisburg PA 17109.