Mary Virginia Kuykendall's Obituary
Mary Virginia Kuykendall, 94 died Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Independence, Kansas. She and her twin bother, Marvin were born on February 15, 1919 near Guymon, Oklahoma, the daughter of Charles William and Rose (Meurer) Imbler.
The Imbler family moved to Kansas and lived Wilberton and Elkhart before settling on a farm near Rolla, Kansas when Mary was in the fourth grade. She was senior at Rolla High School when Loren G. Kuykendall and she decided to get married. They drove to the Sears-Roebuck store in Dodge City, purchased a new suit and shoes for Loren a blue dress and navy coat for Mary before having the Probate Judge marry them at 10:30 P.M. January 8th, 1938.
They began farming in the Buxton area and Mary completed her high school by taking correspondence courses through Topeka, KS. Mary was involved in the community activities as a Sewing Project Leader for the Good Workers 4-H Club, Community meetings at the Fairview School, Buxton Community Church, Sunday School Superintendent and in later years Ladies Sewing Club.
In 1969 they moved to a home they had helped build on 3rd Street in Fredonia. Mary actually finished laying the brick while Loren mixed the cement on the home. Mary began cooking at the Neodesha Nursing Home where she was encouraged to complete a Food Supervisor course and received her Certification.
After Loren's death on December 13, 1984, she took several trips which included driving to Montana to visit her son Ron, flying to Hawaii with her daughter, Virginia and enjoyed visiting New Zealand and Australia with a girlfriend. She also spent several years caring for her two bachelor brothers in Liberal, KS before selling her home and moving to various retirement homes in Bonner Springs, Lee's Summit, Ness City, Fredonia, and Independence, KS. While living there she loved playing Scrabble and being involved in their dinners and activities.
Through the Wilson County Extension Council she learned to sew, decorate cakes and after making a sampler quilt in a class she became an avid quilter. Her children and grandchildren and friends have been given quilts designed especially for them.
Survivors include three children; Virginia Louise Fortner, Kapa'au, HI; Ronald Loren Kuykendall, Plains, MT; and Gayla Alice Berger and her husband, Larry of Perry, OK. 9 grandchildren and12 great grandchildren, 1 sister-in-law, Norma Imbler of Gladstone, MO., and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at Countryside Funeral Home in Fredonia, with visitation to be held 1 hour prior to service time. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant cemetery. The family suggest memorials to the Fredonia Public Library and may be mailed or left with the funeral home. Online condolences may be left for the family at: www.countrysidefh.com. Services have been entrusted to: Countryside Funeral Home 420 S. 20th St., P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?