Birth date: Mar 10, 1914 Death date: Sep 15, 2014
Margaret Elizabeth Gragg, age 100, a longtime resident of Howard, Kansas passed away Monday, September 15, 2014 at the Howard Twilight Manor. She was born on March 10, 1914 in Piedmont, Kansas the daughter of Harold Waco and Addie Read Obituary
Dear Family and Friends:
Mrs. Gragg was my favorite teacher. She had the right amount of kindness mixed in with a little bit of discipline. (She was my second grade teacher in 1968?)
I do not know if I can remember word for word or do the conversation justice, but I did get to visit with her about a week after her 100th birthday party. (March 2014) It went something like this.
"I am Harmon Bliss," introducing myself. " Yes, I remember. You are Francis Bliss's boy. Do you still teach at Jetmore," said Mrs. Gragg.
"Yes, I am still there, I am in my 30th year of teaching agricultural education," I responded.
She kept the conversation going, " Do you think the legislature will ever allow corporal punishment again." "No, probably not," I said.
"Well, I spanked a few students that needed it. And later most of them thanked me for it," she said. She went on to say, " The legislature is just being a big bully. We ought to spank them."
She continued, " You know I was Mayor of Howard, don't you? "Yes, I remember a little about that," I commented.
"At first I was a little apprehensive about doing the job, but when I got in there and all the councilmen were my former students - I just whipped them into shape," said Mrs Gragg.
What a lady! What a Christian! Thank you Mrs. Gragg for your years of service to mankind (and to many of second graders like me), I know your are heaven!
Sincerely,
Harmon F. Bliss
Jetmore, Kansas
