Phyllis Rios Phelan was born in Lompoc on October 4, 1921. She died at her home in Lompoc on Thursday, July 26, 2007.

Phyllis' ancestry goes deep into American and California history. Her great-great grandfather, Petronilo Rios, arrived in California in 1825 and later married Catarina Avila, who was born in California in 1812. Catarina's grandfather descended from the Linares family of the De Anza trailblazers in California in 1775.

Petronilo and Catarina and their 11 children settled in San Miguel, where he was once considered sole owner of the lands of Mission San Miguel and built the Rios-Caledonia Adobe next to the San Miguel Mission, all now a historical complex.

Their oldest son, Camilo, was born at San Miguel in 1833, and in 1874 brought his own family of 11 children to Lompoc. Camilo's son, Charles Rios, married Grace Smithers, newly arrived from England with her family. Her father, John Smithers, was the new pastor of the Lompoc First Baptist Church.

Phyllis' father was Herbert Charles Rios, son of Charles and Grace. He married Myrtle Pierce, daughter of Alfred and Rosa Pierce. Alfred's family goes back to Michael Pierce who arrived from England in 1645 and who was killed by the Narraganset Indians in 1676 in a fight before the Revolutionary War.

Phyllis was the owner of the Merle Norman Cosmetics store in Lompoc from 1980 to 1990. In the 1960's she was switchboard operator at City Hall when it was in the old USO building.

She is survived by her daughter Marty J. Travis and her husband Gene, sister Carolyn Concellos, grandchildren, John J. Harter, Stephanie M. Kennedy; great grandchildren Ciera Schuyler, Haylee Kennedy, and Jonathon Harter; nieces and nephews, Robin Winters, Susie Cromp, Gary Concellos, Charles, John and Maryann Rios, Miranda and Ashley Cromp; cousin Myra Manfrina; step-children, Christine and Larry Downs of San Diego and their daughter Tiffany; and Cheryl and Bob Valentine of Buellton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dallas Phelan, in 1998, and her brothers, Pierce Charles Rios and Jack Herbert Rios.

Cremation will be followed by a graveside service at the Lompoc Cemetery on Thursday, August 2, 2007. Pastor Duane Armstrong of the Trinity Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Memorial donations may be made to the Lompoc Valley Historical Society, Inc., P O Box 88, Lompoc CA 93438.

Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.