Mary Elizabeth Modlin

Mary Elizabeth Modlin was born February 6, 1923, at Springhill, Kansas, to William B. and Susie (Miller) Morton, and died Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at the Jewell County Hospital Long-term Care, Mankato, Kansas, at the age of 90 years, 11 months, and 2 days.

Mary had attended schools in Junction City, Horton, Ransom, Glasco, and graduated from Burr Oak High School.

She married a young sailor, Donald Arden Modlin, on June 20, 1943, at Burr Oak, Kansas. To this union four children were born – Jerry, Don Charles, Mike S. and Sylvia.

Mary was active in Eastern Star, and served as secretary and Worthy Matron; as well as in the United Methodist Church, and United Methodist Women. Mary had been past-president of the women’s group, and had belonged to the United Methodist Church - Concordia District Mission Team.

Don and Mary worked side by side on the farm, as well as the Jewell County Weed Department where she was the secretary and office manager for her husband, Don, the weed director.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald, December 26, 2010; son- Mike on January 23, 2010; daughter-in-law - Gwen Modlin on December 4, 1997; and sisters - Dorothy and husband, Glenn Fearing and Susan Chitty.

She is survived by her daughters – Jerry and husband, James Harding of Manhattan, Kansas, and Sylvia and husband, Mark Musser of Frontenac, Kansas; son – Don Charles and wife, Lois Modlin of Scott City, Kansas; 6 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

The families of Mary E. Modlin will (did) receive friends Friday, January 24, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas. The mortuary will be (was) open for friends who would like to sign the book, Friday, January 24, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. A celebration of life service will be (was) Saturday, January 25, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church, Burr Oak, Kansas, with Pastors Laura Fricker and Gerry Sharp. Music will be (was) performed by Mrs. Rosalie Menhusen. Honorary urn bearers will be (were): Mark Musser, Jim Harding, Gil Chitty, Carl Stepp, Robert “Bob” Johnson, Lynn Scarrow, and Gary Garman. Inurnment will be (was) in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas, beside Donald Modlin. The family will name charities at a later date for the memorials.
Online condolences may be left at www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.