Phyllis Mueller

Phyllis Elaine Mueller, book editor and Master Gardener, 74, died at her home in Decatur Saturday, June 29, after a battle with cancer. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and graduated with a B.A degree from Emory University in 1971.

Phyllis was a Renaissance woman whose many talents enabled her to have a number of careers. She started as a broadcast news producer for WAGA even before graduating from Emory. She was the producer for "News at Noon," WAGA- TV for several years, with Judy Woodruff, who was the first woman anchor in the Atlanta market.

After leaving broadcasting, Phyllis ran her own business as a clothing designer and seamstress. She worked briefly in New Hampshire as a writer for a County Extension Office.

From the 1980s onward, she worked in book publishing in Atlanta, first as a production editor for West Publishing Company's textbook division, then as an editor for two Atlanta area companies, including Susan Hunter Publishing. Phyllis also taught classes in copy editing and ran her own business as a consultant and editor, able to take books from rough manuscript all the way to publication. She edited both fiction and nonfiction, from autobiographies to histories to the popular gardening book, Gardening Around Atlanta.

Phyllis' interests were varied. As a Master Gardener, she assisted with many landscaping projects, and also organized the music for Music in the Garden, a series of Spring and Fall events in Woodland Gardens in Decatur. She was an active member of Decatur Progressive Salon, working for progressive causes.

A long-time friend, Deborah Timeberlake, wrote of Phyllis, "Her passing leaves a big void in many aspects of the Decatur community. There are vast swathes of knowledge I felt I could confidently ignore because I knew all I had to do was ask Phyllis and she would know."

"So many people will miss her terribly," said another friend who had known her since college. "She was a person whose smile and kindness left everyone who met her with the feeling that she was their special friend."

She is survived by her husband, George Eckard, of Decatur; sisters, Bonna Nicholson of Miami, and Paula Mueller of Decatur; and brother, David Mueller of Decatur.

A memorial service will be held on September 7th from 1-4 at the main building of Legacy park 500 S Columbia Dr, Decatur, GA 30030