Ocie Marie Spohn's Obituary
Ocie Marie (Bible) Spohn, 81, a resident of Fredonia, Kansas died Friday, February 4, 2011 at her home following several years of failing health. She was born April 7, 1929, near Coyville, Kansas the daughter of Charles Jackson Bible and Ulreka Maria (Berckefeldt) Bible. The family left Kansas when Ocie was two years old, settling in Pueblo, Colorado. Ocie attended Pueblo schools, graduating from Centennial High School in 1947.
On June 17, 1947, she was joined in marriage to Fred E. “Gene†Spohn at the Pueblo West Side Church of the Nazarene. The new Spohn’s made their first home in Fredonia, where they were co-owners in the Beckefeldt Dairy. When the Dairy closed in 1958 the family moved to Coffeyville but returned to Fredonia in 1960 as owners of the Firestone Store. The family relocated to Topeka, Kansas in 1967 where both Gene and Ocie were employed by the Kansas State Board of Agriculture. Ocie worked in both the State Dairy Laboratory and the State Seed Laboratory retiring in 1992. Following retirement Gene and Ocie returned once again to Fredonia to make their home until Gene’s death in 1995.
In 2000 Ocie married L. E. Green and the couple were later divorced.
Ocie was a beautiful seamstress, making her own clothing from the age of ten or eleven. She worked as an alterations seamstress while in high school, and particularly enjoyed making something old into something beautiful and new. Whether crocheting pockets for the family carom board, tiny gloves for a toddler’s Easter outfit, crafting Halloween costumes, pleating crepe paper for May Baskets, fashioning a wedding gown, or knitting a sweater for a grandson, Ocie was happiest when she was sewing for others.
Ocie was a member of the Fredonia First Christian Church where she sang in the choir and was a member of the Christians Women’s Fellowship, the Leaders Sunday School Class and volunteered her services to the Christian Thrift Shop.
Ocie is survived by:
Daughter:
Anita Smith and husband, Ronald, of Fredonia, Kansas
Two Grandsons:
Scott Smith and wife, Darcy, of Ft. Scott, Kansas
Shawn Smith and wife, Amy, of Lenexa, Kansas
Four Great Granddaughters:
Addison, Ashley, Alyssa Smith of Ft. Scott, Kansas
Taylor Smith of Lenexa, Kansas
Brother:
Jimmie Bible and wife, Pat, of Morongo Valley, California
Ocie was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; infant sons, Charles and David; and son Fred; parents, Charles and Marie Bible; brothers, Ray Leon, Charles, and Gerald Bible; and sister, Maxine Meacham.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at Countryside Funeral Home with Darrin Bible of Pueblo, Colorado Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will follow at the Fredonia City Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, February 7, 2011 from 4-7 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials have been suggested to the Fredonia First Christian Church and may be left with the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at: www.countrysidefh.com. Services have been entrusted to: Countryside Funeral Home 420 S. 20th St., P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736
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