Phyllis Davis Digel

The Magic of an Ordinary Life

Our Mother, Phyllis Estelle Davis Digel lived her life in beautiful West Tennessee as a true Southern woman. She often marveled at the beauty of the rolling hills and lovely roadside trees of West TN. She could name every species of tree and every crop in the fields. She would tell us, "Daddy would have loved the rows of his fields to be that straight and that pretty". Her Dad plowed behind a mule rather than today's big farm machinery.

She was born the fourth child to Elmer Barney Davis and Stella "Steller" May Hurley of Alamo, TN, on January 22, 1927. She grew up in Bells where she sang like an angel at Crossroads Baptist Church in her youth and until she married our father, John Vernon Digel, Jr.

As her children, we believe they had a love for the ages. You would often catch them holding hands as they walked together and as they held strong to each other taking on the world as a united front. They were introduced to each other by her brother, Mack, who was a Navy buddy of Daddy's in the Korean Conflict. Wedding bells were heard shortly thereafter, in 1946. And babies started coming not much longer after that.

Mother raised six children. She loved everyone equally and individually. Our Aunt once said, "All she ever wanted was to be surrounded by her children". In the early years she was a Girl Scout Leader, School assistant and at every event each of us participated in. She sewed her four girls' every article of school clothes and prom dresses. Mother had an open arms and open-door policy her entire life.

Everyone was invited to her home; they were welcomed, made comfortable and well fed! She loved to fish. She would grab a neighbor, a brother or sister or one of her kids or grandkids for a day on the bank of any 'ol watering hole. Mother would catch it, clean it and fry it up for you! You would often find a card game or dominos at her kitchen table. Weekends and vacations were happily filled with camping, water skiing and s'mores around the campfire.

After she and Daddy retired, they moved to Haywood County where she lived for 45 years. Never missing a beat, there were hayrides, Christmas tree chopping, Easter egg hunts, turkey hunts at Thanksgiving and always a feast with as many as 30 people enjoying her love and generosity. We can't talk about Mother without mentioning her love of animals. There were always dogs and cats and after she and Daddy moved to Haywood County, cows, all of whom they named like pets. Jessie being the favorite, who they raised from a bottle.

She left this world for a better one Wednesday morning April 23, 2025, at the age of 98. She will be greeted in Heaven by her beloved husband, John V. Digel, Jr., known to her as "Digel"; her parents, Elmer and Stella Hurley Davis; three brothers, Leslie Davis (Grace), Mack Davis (Rose), Bob Davis; one sister, Ima Faye Droke (Gene); two children, Cecelia Cook and Mike Digel; one grandson, Aaron Moore; one great grandson, Gunner Lindsey; and countless aunts, uncles and cousins, a niece and a nephew. She was the last of a generation.

Missing her dearly are her children, Jack Digel, Pat Digel Moore (Wayne), Barbara Digel and Terry Digel. As well as seven grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren, three great, great grandchildren, and nine nieces and nephews.

Mother had a full and happy life. No matter what her challenges or troubles, she always woke to a new and anticipated day. Although it could be thought of as an ordinary life, Mother understood that there is a certain bit of magic in an ordinary life. There are no services scheduled at this time; further information will be announced as it becomes available. All arrangements are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home.