Phyllis Elaine Crouse

Phyllis Elaine (Fordyce) Crouse, 92, of Ames, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2026, at Northcrest Community. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Friends and family are invited to gather prior to the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa. Burial will follow at Ames Municipal Cemetery. Phyllis was born on August 17, 1933, and was the daughter of Virgil B. Fordyce and Ruth Schrader Fordyce. She began school in Iowa City and later lived in Ames and Winona, Minnesota - where she spent most of her early years - before graduating from high school in Clear Lake, Iowa. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and later attended the University of Minnesota, where she earned a master's degree in public health. In 1955, Phyllis married Duane Lorenz, and together they welcomed a daughter, Brenda. Phyllis later married Verl Crouse in 1976 and gained three adult stepchildren: Rod, Terry, and Curtis. Phyllis devoted her life to nursing. She began her career at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Mason City and spent the remain...[more]

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of her professional life at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Over the years, she served in a variety of roles within the hospital at the staff, supervisory, and administrative levels. Later in her career, she helped develop and introduce the Prime Time Alive program for seniors, a popular program that continues today and provides services supporting the well-being of older adults. Her impact at Mary Greeley continues through the Phyllis E. Crouse Nursing Legacy Scholarship, established to support nurses pursuing advanced education at the master's level. Phyllis was a firm believer in lifelong learning and was dedicated to supporting the next generation of nursing professionals. Phyllis was also deeply involved in her community. She was an active member of the Rotary Club of Ames and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. She served on the Northcrest Community Board and participated in numerous professional nursing organizations at the local, state, and national levels, including membership in the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. After retiring in 1999, Phyllis embraced an active and joyful retirement. She enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Arizona, attending Iowa State University sporting events, playing cards - especially Skip Bo and Bunco - antiquing, and spending time with her many friends and family members. The highlight of her life was being a mother to Brenda. She will be remembered both as a dedicated nurse and as an enthusiastic fan of Iowa State women's basketball. She is survived by her son-in-law, Randy Smith of Madison, Wisconsin; extended family members Lois Crouse of Ames, Curtis and Kris Crouse of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Terry and Ken Graner of Lakeville, Minnesota; as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Verl Crouse; her daughter, Brenda Lorenz Smith; and her stepson, Rod Crouse.