Mary Phillips Zellner Obituary

It is with great sadness we announce that Mary Lou Phillips Zellner, a loving and caring lady whose sweet spirit was like the gentle whisper of the winter wind, and who brought love and happiness everywhere she went, passed away on January 9, 2025, at her home.
She was born on April 19, 1949, to the late John Hardin Phillips and the late Gladys Etta Pruett Phillips. Mary Lou had made her home in Haywood County all of her life, and her kind, caring, and humble nature touched the lives of everyone blessed to know her.
Mary Lou was a talented seamstress and dry cleaner who worked at American Cleaners in Canton for many years. She was well-known throughout the community, and all of her loyal customers loved her and always looked forward to seeing her and visiting with her. She was a wonderful homemaker, and Mary Lou found great joy in working in her flowerbeds and tending to her beautiful flowers with the same care and attention she gave to everything in her life.
Her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family. Her devoted husband, her beautiful daughter, and her two grandchildren who she adored, were the light of her life. Mary Lou was a wonderful and loving Memaw and her delightful personality shone through in everything she did. Her beautiful smile and her caring ways brought great happiness to so many people who will never forget her. Her life has been a blessing. In the words of her husband, "God and Jesus put a walking angel in my life and wanted us to be together." What beautiful words to describe how deeply Mary Lou was loved.
We give thanks for Mary Lou's life of 75 years and we shall forever cherish the wonderful memories we each hold in our hearts of her thoughtfulness, her way of always making others feel loved, the way she made us smile, and the comfort she brought to others everywhere she went. Mary Lou's life is a true inspiration and we should each strive to be more like her every single day.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Phillips; her sister and brother-in-law, Ruby Benson and Robert "Cat" Benson; her brother, Larry Phillips; a nephew Robert "PeeWee" Benson and a niece Kelly Phillips.
Surviving are her loving husband of 32 years, Kenneth D. Zellner of Canton; her daughter, Louetta Constante and husband Shane of Canton; a granddaughter, Jay Constante and a grandson, Robbie Constante; stepdaughter, Renee Zellner of Hendersonville; a stepson, David Zellner and Jenn of Porter, Texas; a brother, Harry Phillips of Candler; sister-in-law, Wanda Sorenson of Delta Junction, AK; many nieces and nephews; and a host of wonderful friends.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mary Lou will be held at 11:00 am Friday, January 17, 2025 in the chapel of Crawford / Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home from 10:00 am until 11:00 am prior to the funeral service. Burial will be held at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain.
Crawford / Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service is deeply honored to be caring for the Zellner family.