Phyllis Fanning

Phyllis (Craig) Fanning, 71, died Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of William Fanning, Sr., with whom she shared 52 years of marriage. Born in Merrimac on Dec. 6, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Ruth (Heath) Craig. She was raised and educated in Merrimac and later studied at the Essex Agricultural School. For many years, she was employed as a nurse’s aide at Twin Oaks Nursing Home in Danvers. A Beverly resident for more than fifty years, she was a member of the North Shore Mothers of Twins Club. She enjoyed playing cards and scratch tickets, loved Christmas, and adored her grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, William Fanning Jr. and his wife Jeanne of North Carolina, Linda Doherty and her husband Dan Jr. of Salem, NH, Dianne Reddy and her husband William Sr. of Beverly, and Dawn Driscoll and her husband Patrick of Beverly, her grandchildren, Katrina, Dan III, Sean, Ryan, Phillip, Conner, Kevin, Mary, Billy, Brady, Kyle, and Kellie, a great-grandson, Ryan, her sisters and brother, Eleanor Childs, Shirley Jones, Bernice “Bunny” Ordway, and Henry “Rocky” Craig, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters, Joyce Huntress and Ruth Greco. Her Funeral Service will be held Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours will precede the service from 11:30-1PM in the funeral home. Online directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com.