Phyllis “Liz” Western, 72

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Phyllis Louise Western, known as Liz to friends and family, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2025, at the age of 72. A devoted mother, loyal friend, and resident of Peachtree City for over 30 years, Liz was adored by her community and led an exemplary life filled with faith, family, laughter, and light.

Liz was born on February 2, 1952, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to the late Harold and Jeanne Kirk. She grew up in a close-knit household rich with warmth, faith, community, and an enduring appreciation for exercise and the outdoors, fostered by long days spent on Lake Intervale after the family moved to New Jersey in her early childhood. Liz attended Fisher College in Boston, where she developed an appreciation for music, culture, and travel. Her love of adventure led to a backpacking trip across Europe and two summers spent with a close friend in Maracaibo, Venezuela, cultivating a lifelong love of Spanish language and culture.

After college Liz took a job with Allied Chemical in Morristown, New Jersey. In 1974 she met Vernon Western, her husband of 42 years, whom she married a year later. Vern’s assignments with Exxon took the two to Valdez, Alaska, and then back to Venezuela, leaving Liz with stories of adventure from across the world that would last a lifetime. The two later settled in Orlando, Florida. After a tenure with Marriott Hotels, Liz dedicated herself to raising her son Craig, born in 1989, and caring for the family dog Chena. Liz passed on her deeply held values, among them the importance of hard work, gratitude, and putting others first.

Relocating to Peachtree City in 1995, Liz built over the years a strong community and support system for the family. Liz would speak fondly of vibrant memories from this time of trips with her loved ones, from the California redwoods to Tokyo, from Munich to the Galapagos Islands. A part-time position teaching Spanish at the Heritage School through her retirement in 2018 allowed Liz to pursue and pass along to elementary school students her passion for the Spanish language.

Despite being a beacon of healthy living and exercise, the second half of Liz’s life was shaped by cancer, having battled and beaten the disease four separate times – melanoma in 1994, breast cancer in 2002 and 2007, and thyroid cancer in 2014. Her strength and unwavering spirit during these periods were unmatched, serving as an inspiration to all who knew her and leading to lifelong involvement with breast cancer advocacy and awareness through such organizations as Relay for Life, Bikers Riding for Awareness, and the Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer. Liz personally touched countless lives through support groups and coaching for families navigating their own cancer journeys.

Liz’s later years were filled to the brim with faith, friends, and family. A member of Peachtree City United Methodist Church and later Passion City Church, where she served as a volunteer, Liz grew her connection to God through service, clubs, and Bible study. She cherished her peaceful home and her community at Cresswind, where her smile so often lit up the room as she surrounded herself with friends who shared her love of pickleball, cards, games, and exercise. Her love for travel lived on through trips to Africa, Greece, Croatia, New Zealand, and other destinations across the world. Through it all, she maintained an unwavering bond with her son, seeing him through life’s milestones and welcoming her grandson Jackson in December of 2024.

A fifth and final cancer diagnosis – pancreatic cancer – came in early January of 2025. Liz declined treatment after fighting for so many years, willing instead that her remaining weeks be comfortable, graceful, and guided at every step by her faith. She spent her final days in the company of family and friends, finally meeting her beloved grandson and completing her journey to God with her son by her side.

Liz is survived by her son Craig (Courtney) Western, grandson Jackson Western, siblings, Ross (Ann) Kirk and Ellen Duffin, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation and celebration of Liz’s life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Peachtree City United Methodist Church. A reception will follow at Cresswind from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. All are welcome. Visit the Mowell website for any additional details prior to the 22nd, and please direct any offerings of flowers prior to the event to Mowell Funeral Home Peachtree City.

Liz inspired us to live better, and her legacy lives on through those she touched and the love she spread. If you would like to contribute to Liz’s memory, please consider a charitable donation to the Charles A. Henderson Memorial Cancer Fund or to the Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer in memory of Liz, reflecting her enduring mission to improve the lives of those impacted by cancer.