Mildred Phelps

Mildred “Tooter” (Ping) Phelps, age 83, went to her heavenly home on Saturday, January 28 th, 2023, surrounded by her family and loved ones, at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.

Tooter was born on October 8 th , 1939, in Somerset, Kentucky, to the late Joe and Sircle (Moore) Ping. She was the youngest of three children, two of whom preceded her in death: Jean Harpold and Clyde Ping. Tooter married the late James “Bunt” Phelps in November of 1957, and six children were created from this union. One child preceded her in death, Jamie Lee Phelps, and five other children survive her: Tammy (James “Dickie”) Lewis of Burnside, Tina Phelps of Ferguson, Jami (Allen) Dobbs of Ferguson, Carol (Harvey) Maynard of Somerset, and Chris Phelps of Somerset. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Christy Lewis, Ruth (Kelly) Miller, Chase Dobbs, Chandler Dobbs, Cameron Maynard, Cacee Dobbs, and Caden Maynard. In addition, she is survived by eight great grandchildren: Devin (Jasmine) Griffith, Brody Baker, Bentley Baker, Lauren Miller, Jaxx Griffith, Lachlan Miller, Riley Miller, Xavier Dobbs, and Braxton Blake. She was preceded in death by one great grandchild: Reece Griffith. She is also survived by three great-great grandchildren: Blakely Tucker, Henley Griffith, and Cohen Griffith. She is survived by one special sister-in-law, Reba Hatfield, in addition to a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Tooter retired from Adanta, where she worked at Priority Services as a direct service provider for people with intellectual disabilities. She was best known for making her famous Meringue Pies at Old Town Deli and now the Downtown Deli, where she was loved by many who came to
eat their daily lunch. People never had to worry about eating alone because Tooter loved to turn strangers into friends. She will be deeply missed by the regulars who loved her much. She loved to go eat once a month with her special childhood friends: Patty Garner, Joanna Sewell, Jane Hinkle, Max Lay, Jerri Sue Copenhaver, and the late Betty Wallace. Tooter was a lifetime member at Ferguson United Methodist Church and enjoyed frying chicken for the Methodist women on quilting Tuesday’s. She served on the Ferguson City council, in addition to helping the Ferguson High School Homecoming Committee. Tooter was a kind loving mother who always spent her time caring for others. She claimed so many of her children and grandchildren’s friends as her own.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 3 rd , 2023, at 1:00pm at Ferguson United Methodist Church with Bro. Gary Clark. The burial will take place at the Minton Cemetery in Ferguson. The family will receive friends after 5:00pm on Thursday, February 2 nd , 2023, at
Pulaski Funeral Home. The Pall Bears will include: Chase Dobbs, Devin Griffith, Chandler Dobbs, Cameron Maynard, Jaxx Griffith, and Brody Baker. There will be five honorary Pall Bears: Lachlan Miller, Teegan Mullins, Timmy Baker, Bryar Smith, and Easton Mullins. In lieu of
flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy to be taken to Ferguson United Methodist Women.

Pulaski Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with arrangements.