Phyllis Jean Lackland Vega

Phyllis Jean Lackland Vega passed away peacefully on May 30, 2025. 

Her grace, intelligence, kindness, and generous love of family and community will be greatly missed. Phyllis is preceded by her husband of 77 years, Francisco Miguel Nava Vega, and daughter, Susan Vega. She is survived by her daughters Margaret Vega (Tom Erdall) of Grand Rapids, and Elizabeth Vega of Pittsford, N.Y.; three grandsons, Frank Dabrosky ( Angela) of MO, Andrew Vega McCarthy ( Kelley Kantarian) of NYC and Traverse City, and Ben Calkins of Pittsford, NY; two grand- daughters, Claire and Margaret Calkins., three great grand-children, Matthew Kantarian McCarthy, Gabriella and Elizabeth Dabrosky, one sister, Marian Monser of Peoria, IL., and embraced son, Hon. George Heartwell (Susan).

Phyllis was born on a ranch in Parma, Idaho and grew up in Peoria, Illinois. She graduated in Journalism from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois where she was the editor of the college newspaper for two years. Phyllis met her husband, Francisco, at Bradley University where he was in elite training for WW2. After graduation, she moved to Chicago where she worked for the Social Security Board. She was listed in the Who’s Who among Students in Colleges and Universities and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

Phyllis was employed at the Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI for 28 years, where she also volunteered as a docent; She worked at the Grand Rapids Press, Kent County Convention Bureau and at the Greater Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. She was active for many years in the Kent County Republican Party where she served as Vice Chairman and as Secretary. She was editor of Rap-Tab, the Republican Party newspaper. She served as President, Vice President and Secretary of the Gerald R Ford Republican Women’s Club; was a volunteer in 3 states with the Scatter Blitzers to get out the vote for President Ford; served as chair of the volunteers for Hal Sawyer for Congress and of the Bush/Quayle Campaign for President. She was on the board of the YWCA and of United Way.

Phyllis was a member of the Grand Rapids Board of Canvassers and a volunteer with the Florence Graf Guild of Spectrum Blodgett Hospital.

Private Graveside services will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery at 1:00 PM on Tuesday , June 3, 2025 with Rev. George Heartwell presiding.

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