Wesley F. Howe

Baton Rouge, LA — Phyllis "Jean" Calkins, 94, of Baton Rouge, LA, died Tuesday, June 20, 2023 peacefully in her sleep in Baton Rouge, LA.

Visitation will be held from 9:30-11 a.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023 at the church in Baton Rouge, LA.

Because of her love for the Boy Scouts, the Daughters of the American Revolution, LSU and her churches, the family asks that in lieu of flowers you consider a donation to the Istrouma Area Council of the Boy Scouts, Sister's in Service at First Methodist Church in Mabank, Texas, Broadmoor United Methodist Church, the Sarah Maples Chapter of DAR and/or for scholarships at the LSU Foundation. Memorial gifts can be made to the LSU Foundation to honor Phyllis “Jean” Calkins' legacy at jeancalkins.givesmart.com.

Phyllis “Jean” Callaway Calkins was born Feb. 15, 1929 in Dustin to parents Margaret Bruns Callaway and Connie C. Callaway.

Jean graduated from O'Neill High School in 1947 and in August of that year she married Harold. They spent 61 years together moving from O'Neill to Sioux Falls, SD to Sioux City, Iowa to Spencer, Iowa to Bossier City, LA to Baton Rouge, LA with Harold's career with Wonder Bread. During those years, they raised five children all of whom graduated from LSU.  Jean loved her Tigers!  She and Harold spent many of their retirement years in Gun Barrel City, Texas.  

Jean was famous for her ability to cook, especially her gumbo, angel food cake and peanut brittle! Ming was an incredible seamstress and was constantly sewing for herself, family and friends. 

She loved her volunteer time at Magnolia Mound cooking in the outdoor kitchen. She cherished her involvement with the First Methodist Church of Mabank Sisters in Service, the book club and teaching a Sunday School class there for many years.  

Acting was a passion of Jean's and she enjoyed many years of acting in regional and community theaters while living in the Midwest.  

While in Louisiana, she worked for Rubenstein's and later she managed the facilities at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, cooking a million meals with her cohort Tammy.  They could cook for six or six hundred! 

Reading was another passion of Jean's and she read voraciously and had a great library and often would be a lender of books. 

Jean was so proud of her Eagle Scouts…seven in the family! And many a Philmonter enjoyed Calkins hospitality in Gun Barrel City on their way home from the ranch. 

Most importantly, she was also known for sharing her lemon drops with any age child. She was also a very accomplished Scrabble player.  

Jean is survived by her four children Carol Calkins of Dallas, Texas, Ron Calkins of Little Rock, AR, Scott (Debbie) Calkins of Baton Rouge, LA and Karen (Ken) Calkins Link of Benton, LA; one daughter-in-law Cheryl Calkins of Baton Rouge, LA; three siblings Joan Jackson of Aurora, CO, Con (Bette) Callaway of Sun City, AZ and Jody Callaway of Wood, SD; one sister-in-law Sue Callaway of Ainsworth; one brother-in-law Donald Calkins of Lincoln;  four step-siblings Scottie (Lee) Caldwell of Atlanta, GA, Steve (Sally) Babbitt of Broken Bow, Nancy (Ernie) Drent of Beatrice and Gary (Sharon) Babbitt of Richland, WA. She was affectionately named Mingamaw and lovingly called Ming by her grands and great-grands and is also survived by her 12 grands Erin (Ryan) Falterman, Jennifer (Spencer) Hines, Paul (Erin) Bordelon, Brian Bordelon, Kyle Calkins, Zoe (Jake) Dell, Steven (Emily) Calkins, Rob Link, Libby (Aaron) Valdez, Maia Calkins, Liam Calkins and Aidan Calkins; nine great-grands Chase, Emileigh, Zane, Caroline, Elizabeth, Genevieve, Benjamin, Evelyn and Mackenzie; and many cousins, nephews and nieces.  

She is preceded in death by her husband Harold Calkins, one son Bill Calkins, her parents and two brothers Lowell and Jack.