Eva Laurene Sanders

Eva Laurene Sanders was born July 15, 1914, to William and Ella (Trunbull) Leavitt, at Salem, Kansas, died July 16, 2011, at the Sunset Home, Concordia, Kansas, at the age of 97 years.

She attended school at Stratton, Colorado; Colby, Kansas; and North Platte, Nebraska. Eva was a graduate of Draughon Business College at Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Eva was baptized into the Lutheran Church and later transferred membership to the Christian Church. She was united in marriage to Lawrence R. Sanders on November 23, 1932 at Smith Center, Kansas. To this union two children were born, Gerald and Gaye.

Eva operated a grocery store in Ionia, and during World War II, she operated a café in Ionia, and was so proud to serve meals to the German prisoners. After they moved to Mankato, Kansas, Eva went to work for United States Department of Agriculture, U.S.D.A., until her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence, on May 31, 2001; her parents; three sisters; four brothers; son-in-law, Flash Newlin; and a grandson, Martin.

Eva is survived by a son, Gerald and wife, Joyce Sanders of Topeka; a daughter, Gaye Newlin of Concordia, Kansas; a host of grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Lilly Terrell of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and a host of nieces and nephews who will remember her lovingly for many years to come.

A celebration of life service for Eva L. Sanders will be (was) Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Christian Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastor Thaddeus Hinkle officiating. Interment will be (was) in the Esbon Cemetery, Esbon, Kansas. The family suggests memorials to Alzheimer ’s disease and Related Disorders Association, in care of the mortuary. Visitation will be (was) Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.