Myrna L. Houston

Myrna Loy "Moy" Phillips Houston, 88 years, 8 months of Wentzville, Missouri died Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at Evelyn's Hospice House in Creve Coeur, Missouri, after a brief illness.

She was born May 3, 1936, as the first child to the late Cecil Merle and Dona Margaret "Margie" (Hemelstrand/White) Phillips in Gosper County, Nebraska.

Myrna became a caregiver at an early age when her mother passed away and she helped her father with her younger siblings. She went to Central Academy/College in McPherson, Kansas for her Junior year of High School, where she met the Oklahoma farm boy, Alan Daniel Houston, who became her husband. They were united in marriage on February 6, 1954, in Edison, Nebraska. To this union were born two children, Karl Dean and Victoria "Vickie" Fawn. Besides being a wonderful housewife, generous hostess, fabulous cook and stay at home mom, Myrna worked as a secretary and as a florist in some of the many places they lived. She was always very involved in children's and women's ministries at the churches she attended. She served faithfully beside Alan when he pastored churches in Albuquerque, NM, Palmer and Red Cloud, NE. She also served with him when they went as missionaries with Global Partners of the Wesleyan Church in Zambia, Africa for 7 years.

Myrna loved her family deeply and was a dear friend to many. She had a way of making family and friends feel loved and cared for, living out her Lord's commission to love others above yourself. Everyone was always welcome in her home, even strangers. She loved to cook, sew and craft and could "whip up a meal" at a moment's notice, or make a lovely, crafted piece from "bits and scraps and pieces" she found lying around. Butterflies were her favorite things to include in her crafting and card making. A multitude of pets--dogs, cats, lizards, snakes, and fish mostly brought home by Karl and Vickie, were welcomed in her home over the years. Her greatest desire of all was to see others find a meaningful relationship with the Lord that would lead them to salvation and a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

She is survived by her husband Alan, of nearly 71 years; children Karl (Beth) of Rio Rancho, NM, Victoria (Mike) Lehr of Wright City, MO; four grandchildren, Daniel (Christi) Houston of Indianapolis, IN, Karla (Steven) McClellan of Rio Rancho, Joshua (Alicia) Lehr of Greer, SC, Keziah (Hunter) Segers of Wright City; ten great grandchildren Rachel Houston, Maggie Jones, Ronan McClellan, Lily Fulgham, Sebastian and Jameson Houston, Liam, Eliana, Judah and Rhett Segers. Sisters Dee Kaercher, Sandra (Veldon) Price, brothers Roy (Susan) and Randy (Connie) Phillips. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and a host of friends all over the world.

She was proceeded in death by her parents Cecil and Dona Phillips, stepmother Norma Phillips, father and mother-in-law Walter and Mayre Houston, a brother-in-law Gene Kaercher, three brothers-in-law and their wives Charles (Marcia), Lawrence (Phyllis), David (Joan), several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were 11:00am Monday January 13, 2025, at Williams Funeral Home, 241 W. 4th Ave, Red Cloud, NE with Dan Benedict officiating, burial at Arapahoe Cemetery, Arapahoe, NE at 3pm.

Memorials may be made to World Hope International, Attn: Gift Processing, PO Box 743794, Atlanta, GA 30374-3794 or online at www.worldhope.org

Online condolences may be made at www.wmsfh.com

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska 68970

Phone 402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com