Phyllis K. Warr

BURLEY – Phyllis Korth Warr, age 102, of Twin Falls, and formerly of Burley, passed away July 10, 2025, at Canyons Senior Living in Twin Falls.

Phyllis was born June 19, 1923, in East Garland, Utah to Frederick and Rose Simmons Korth. She was the youngest of 11 children. She attended Bear River High School where she enjoyed swimming, performing with a dance group, and attending all the high school activities.

After she graduated from high school, she spent the summer at her sister’s house (Mabel Dayley) in Murtaugh where she helped cook for the ranch hands. It was there that she met a handsome young farm worker, Mat Warr. They were married on September 1, 1942, in the Logan Utah Temple. They moved to Lanark, Idaho where Mat started his first teaching job. They lived in a small apartment at the back of a private residence which had no running water and a coal stove for heat. Six weeks later Uncle Sam called Mat to serve in World War II. He enlisted in the United States Navy.

Phyllis followed him to Coeur ‘d’Alene where he did his basic training at Farragut. She then went to Bloomington, Indiana with him. She was the only woman on the troop train. She ate meals with the officers and then Mat was allowed to join her at night on a hard wooden bench in the back. From there they transferred to Lafayette, Indiana, where she stayed until close to the time of the birth of their first baby. She returned to Tremonton, Utah and stayed with her parents until Byron Mat Warr was born November 19, 1943. Phyllis later returned with Byron to Indiana where they stayed until Mat was shipped overseas where he served in Okinawa.

Following the war, they lived in Logan, Utah where Mat attended Utah State University. Their second son, Michael “K” was born there on July 16, 1947. After Mat’s graduation they bought a home in Twin Falls, Idaho where Mat worked as a furniture salesman at Sears & Roebuck Co. and Phyllis worked as a hostess at the Turf Club. Their daughter, Karen was born in Twin Falls on November 27, 1951.

Mat and Phyllis moved to Burley in 1954 where Mat planned to open a furniture store. He ended up teaching distributive education at Burley High School and then became Business Manager of the Cassia County School District. Their daughter Tamara was born on April 30, 1962. Phyllis worked as a kindergarten aid for many years, first at Miller School and then at Springdale Kindergarten. Mat and Phyllis were also the managers of the CCEA Credit Union until their retirement.

Mat and Phyllis loved to work in their yard, growing beautiful flower gardens and a bountiful vegetable garden from which produce was shared with many friends and neighbors. Phyllis loved to quilt and belonged to a quilting club where she was able to make amazing quilts for each of her children and grandchildren. She also loved to bake. Her children remember coming home from school each week to loaves of homemade bread and enjoying the “fried bread” on baking day. Her children and grandchildren have fond memories of cookies, candy, and special Christmas treats.

They built a cabin in the Basin, southeast of Oakley, where they spent many peaceful weekends and enjoyed nature.

Phyllis was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she held many calling over the years, including Relief Society President.

She is survived by her children, Byron (Ruth) Warr of Nampa Idaho, Mike (Janeen) Warr of Nampa, Karen (Dave) Ferro of Caldwell, and Tammy (Dan) King of Twin Falls; 17 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; and 30 great-great-grandchildren.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Mat; her parents; her ten siblings: Clarence Korth, Elvan Korth, Dora Isaacson, Sylvan Korth, Alice Korth, Ethel Bingham, Bessie Davis, Mabel Dayley, Clara Adamson, Leone Clark; and one great -grandchild, Drew Manning.

The family would like to express appreciation to the caregivers at Canyons Senior Living and Visions Hospice for their compassionate care of Phyllis.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 East 16th Street in Burley, where a viewing for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/dKi9antV7lw.