Obituary
Phyllis Ann Miller Howell
Benton, Arkansas
December 27, 1949 – June 9, 2026
Some people are remembered for what they did. Phyllis Howell will be remembered for how she made people feel.
Phyllis Ann Miller Howell, 76, of Benton, Arkansas, passed away on June 9, 2026. She leaves behind a family who adored her, friends who cherished her, devoted clients, and enough funny memories to keep everyone laughing for years to come.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Steven Howell.
Phyllis spent her entire career as a hairstylist, but that title hardly tells the story. Her salon chair was a gathering place. People came for a haircut and left with a laugh, encouragement, and usually a promise to return. Her clients were fiercely loyal—some traveling two hours just to see her. That loyalty wasn’t just because she was talented. It was because people loved being around her.
She had a gift for making people feel important. She could make a room laugh, strike up a conversation with anyone, and somehow leave with a new friend. If you met Phyllis once, chances are you remembered her forever.
Her greatest joy was her family.
She is survived by her son, Chris Cullum and his wife, Lori, and their children, Nicholas Cullum and Megan Cullum.
She is also survived by her daughter, Dr. Marla Murphy and her husband, Jason; and their children, Chase Murphy and his wife, Kelli Urrey; Chandler Wilson and her husband, Craig Wilson; and Logan Murphy and his longtime girlfriend, Elena Hinojosa.
Phyllis was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Carter Murphy and Nora Murphy, who brought her endless happiness.
And then there was Halloween.
Most people decorate for Halloween.
Phyllis prepared for Halloween.
She loved dressing up, making people laugh, and embracing every bit of fun the season had to offer. No matter her age, she never lost that playful spirit. While many adults eventually stop wearing costumes, Phyllis clearly never received that memo. She understood that growing older and growing up are not the same thing.
The world is a little less bright without her in it.
There are fewer laughs, fewer funny stories, and fewer people who can make a bad day better simply by showing up.
But if Phyllis taught her family anything, it’s that love and laughter outlive us. Her family will carry both with them always.
So when you think of Phyllis, don’t think only of the day we lost her. Think of the laughter around the table, the stories that get funnier every time they’re told, the woman who made friends wherever she went, loved her family with her whole heart, and made ordinary moments feel special.
And if you happen to laugh while remembering her, that’s exactly what she would have wanted.
Phyllis was deeply loved, endlessly funny, and absolutely unforgettable. Her family will miss her every day, but they are grateful for the joy she brought into their lives and the memories that will keep her close forever.
Phyllis chose not to have formal services. In her memory, she asked for everyone to take a moment to embrace the people you love, or reach out to a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in a while to share a movie or a meal. That is truly what she would have wanted.
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