Phyllis Louise Nelson Takayama completed her earthly journey on November 10, 2024, at age 101. She was born October 5, 1923, in DeKalb, Illinois, the oldest of five children of Floyd Benjamin Nelson and Gladys Gustava (Wallin) Nelson. She grew up on a large farm where the farmhouse was built around a two-story log cabin, dated 1835. A memorable high school experience was playing the cello for two years in the Illinois All State Orchestra, which was conducted by Dr. Joseph Maddy of Interlochen. She won the DeKalb County scholarship to the University of Illinois by examinations in English, Language and Literature, and Physics (her subject of choice).
At the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, she studied chemistry and biology, graduating as co-valedictorian of her class. She was a Bronze Tablet scholar, elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, and other scholastic societies. Phyllis was also House President of 50 young women at Presby (Presbyterian) Hall on campus.
After teaching a few years in northern Illinois, she accepted a position with the Dearborn, Michigan, public schools. While attending Central Methodist Church at Grand Circus Park in Detroit, she met Mitsume Takayama from California. They were married at Central Church on June 17, 1950, by Dr. Henry Hitt Crane.
