El Dorado Hills recently lost the co-owner of one of its oldest businesses with the passing of Phyllis Hautala.

The 64-year-old owned the Dusty Creek Lumber store near the U.S. Post office on White Rock Road with her brother, Steve Holmes of Fort Bragg.

Hautala, an active member of the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce, died June 29 after briefly battling bile duct cancer.

“She was active in everything,” said Dan Slootweg, a longtime employee at Dusty Creek.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced at the Telegraph’s deadline. A memorial service has already been held for her in Fort Bragg.

She is survived by her daughters, Kari Huston, Carla Valencia and Beth Ann Gearing. Valencia and Gearing work in the store.

“She was a beautiful, wonderful person and will be missed,” said Valencia, the middle daughter.

She said the store will be open for the foreseeable future.

"We have no plans to close," Valencia said.

Gearing said her mom fought hard to beat the cancer.

"She was 64 years young," Gearing said.

Debbie Manning, president and CEO of the El Dorado Hills chamber, said Ms. Hautala was “very active and very supportive of the local business community.”