Noted Midwestern synthetic fabric collector and prodigious tomato gardener Phyllis Fulton Ketcham passed away at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa on Sunday, March 24, 2013. She was 87 years old. Born in Storm Lake, Iowa, Phyllis quickly eschewed the humdrum of housework on the family farm, preferring the freedom of working in the fields with her dad from an early age and grew so strong that she could lift her older brother, Bub, over her head. An avid roller skater during high school, she made her priorities clear when she used her prom dress money to buy a new pair of skates. After graduating from Spencer High School and attending American Business Institute in Des Moines, she headed to Washington, DC to work as a secretary in the Naval Annex where she most notably, knocked Gene Kelly on his rear as they collided racing to catch a bus.

While at Iowa State University pursuing a degree in Applied Art, Phyllis also met Keith Kendall Ketcham, the love of her life. Graduating on the morning of Dec. 17, 1949, she married Keith that afternoon at the United Methodist Church in Ames. Once rooted, Ames became their lifelong home.

As a devoted wife and domestic engineer wrangling four children, Phyllis magically created a space that became the neighborhood hub, dispensing food, advice and mountains of creative materials to all. She loved to garden and cook, sharing avalanches of ripe tomatoes, pickled everything and made gooseberry jam. Over the years she maintained many lively and vital connections to neighbors, classmates, family and friends around the world and was generous with homemade gifts.

A love of wildlife, a natural extension of her career as a substitute teacher, kept her busy. With a van fully equipped for extended rambling and herself and Keith festooned with binoculars, scopes and cameras, Phyllis quickly established herself as North America's preeminent wildlife videographer, creating a new perspective in art through hours of mindless chronicles of sidewalks and windshields, cleverly framing wildness within the confines of technological entrapment.

Phyllis was full of surprises. Whether dead-ended as night fell in the middle of Michigan's forests adventuring with Keith or sitting cross-legged on a carpet in a barn sharing roasted goat at a Muslim religious festival, her endless curiosity brought many new experiences and people into her life.

Fiercely loving, highly intelligent, startling in her ingenuity and creativity, a meticulous observer, deeply loyal and caring, her quest for knowledge and her desire for a good cup of coffee were with her to the end.

Phyllis is survived by sisters Dorothy Rice of Bloomington, MN and Lois Crampton of St. Louis, MO; daughter-in-law Pamela Ketcham of Arlington, TX; daughters Judith Spencer (James) of Syracuse, NY and Barbara Huisman (Rodrick) of Ft. Dodge, IA; son Richard Ketcham (Deborah) of Ames, IA; grandchildren Tiffany Ketcham, Erin and Adam Huisman, Sarah and Susanne Spencer. Phyllis was preceded in death by husband, Keith; son, Mark; great-granddaughter, Brianna; parents, a sister and two brothers.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate the life of Phyllis Ketcham on Thursday, April 4 with a visitation from 12-2 pm and a 2 pm memorial service at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames. Following the service, all are invited for a reception and time for reminiscing at Windsor Oaks, 1100 Adams Street in Ames.

Memorials may be directed to: Iowa State University Foundation 2505 University Blvd Ames, Iowa 50010 Wildlife Care Clinic.

On line condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com