Phyllis was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Nona (Tisdale) Hollis and Leonard Hollis on February 21, 1957. She was the beloved wife of 22 years to Johnny McElroy; a loving and cherished mother figure to Natalie Hollis, Olivia Hollis, Alexis (Steve) Michalovich, and Nicholas (Jane) Palmer, whom she loved as her own; loving grandmother of Gianna, Everett, Alessandra, Vincent, and Dominic; and dear sister of Marcus Hollis and Matthew Hollis. Phyllis is also survived by many dear cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Leonard Jr. and Gary Hollis.

Phyllis was an alumna of Miami University and a longtime employee of the State of Ohio. She began her career with the Civil Rights Commission in 1988 and retired in 2024 from her position as an Investigator.

In her spare time, Phyllis enjoyed yard sale shopping and filling her home with beautiful indoor plants. She loved her plants and dogs, especially her beloved dog, Mister. She and Johnny enjoyed traveling together and spent time in some of their favorite places, including Chicago and North Carolina. Phyllis also loved international travel and visited Austria and Mexico on many occasions.

More than anything, Phyllis found her greatest joy in spending time with her grandchildren. She was deeply family-oriented and cherished every opportunity to spoil them and let them know how much she loved them. Her love for her family was evident in everything she did, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Phyllis also believed that you could never have enough food at any meal. She loved making sure everyone was well-fed, and feeding the people she loved was one of the many ways she showed how much she cared.

Phyllis leaves behind a lasting legacy of love and friendship. She was the person anyone could call, and she was always there to answer the call. The love she shared with her family and the close relationships she built with those she loved will continue to live on. She is missed by so many. Her warmth, kindness, and humor will remain in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her.

A service honoring Phyllis will take place at Paul R. Young Funeral Home in Oxford, Ohio, on Saturday, September 5, 2026 with calling hours from 10:00AM–11:00AM, followed by a memorial service at 11:00AM. Burial will take place immediately following the service at Woodside Cemetery in Oxford, Ohio. Following the burial, friends and family can gather at Grandfather's Barn, 6901 Stillwell Beckett Road, Oxford, OH 45056, to celebrate Phyllis' life, her love of family, and, of course, her love of food.