Lorna Ives

Lorna Blanche Stouffer was born May 1 ^st , 1918 in York, Nebraska. At Birth, both Lorna and her mother both almost died. Thanks be to God. Both survived and lived long and healthy lives.

Lorna's early life was spent on the family farm near what was then the town of Arborville, Nebraska. Lorna entertained herself by seeing how many baby chicks she could stuff into a tin can with a stick; and dropping kittens into the well to watch them splash around. Lorna remembers learning to iron clothes with an iron heated on top of a cast iron stove.

In order to see if the iron was hot enough, her mother taught her to lick her finger and barely touch the iron to see if it sizzled. In her child's mind she reasoned, "Why lick your finger when your tongue is already wet?" Needless to say, she suffered terribly!

When Lorna was seven, her only sibling was born, a sister Dorothy. By then the family had moved from the farm to the town of York where the girls were raised and schooled.

As a young person and into adulthood, Lorna was a pianist, accompanying groups at church and serving as a church organist at a church. She also sang in a number of singing groups as a strong alto. In 1937, she attended York College there she met a handsome young man from Kansas who wooed her with beautiful poetry such as:

"The gum chewing girl and the cud chewing cow

Look alike, but they're different somehow.

OH, I see it now!

It's the intelligent look on the face of the cow."

Somehow, Lorna was smitten and they eventually married on Easter Sunday, April 9 ^th , 1939 at the home of Lorna's parents. Marvin and Lorna moved to Emporia Kansas, where Marvin graduated from what is now Emporia State University Teachers College in 1942 Lorna worked as a switchboard operator at the telephone company and later managed a dry cleaning business.

During World War II, Marvin and Lorna lived in Kansas City where Marvin worked as an inspector for Pratt Whitney which manufactured bomber plane engines.

After the war, they returned to Emporia where Lorna Kathleen was born on April 3rd, 1950 in Emporia, Ks. Four years later, Marvin Kevin arrived on March 17 ^th , 1954 after the family had moved to Wichita.

Our mother was a devoted mother who loved her children unconditionally. She allowed us to have a large assortment of pets over the years and willingly drove us to our activities. Mother was a loving, giving friend. In the 1950s she and Dad brought a neighbor lady, who was fleeing an alcoholic husband, and her two daughters into our home. They lived with us for two months in our tiny two bedroom, one bathroom house. This dear lady remained a life-long friend.

Mom supplemented Dad's income by selling Luzier cosmetics which she did quite successfully while still being a Mom whenever Kevin and I were home.

During several Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays in the 1970s, our folks would open our home to the Nigerian WSU students who attended our church. Mom loved to entertain and was a gracious hostess making everyone feel special. She could always put together a delicious, nutritious meal on her shoestring budget. She was a beautiful seamstress, even working all night on my prom formal. Mom and Dad delighted in their children and were ecstatic when they began having grandchildren!

Mother was one of the most disciplined people we knew. She was very good with money and very frugal but also generous toward others. Although a good person and a church - goer all of her life, she didn't receive Jesus as her Savior until she heard the good news of forgiveness of sins and eternal life at the age of 40. She asked Him to enter her life and followed Him in baptism and her life was forever changed.

Dad received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the age of 13. He was kind and humble and never complained. We never heard him say anything bad about anyone. He was gentle and caring with a quiet spirit and a quirky sense of humor. He was always forgiving of others and demonstrated a servant's heart. He worked on many Central Christian Church and Academy projects behind the scenes.

Dad and Mom were members of the Central Christian Church Choir for 34 years. They volunteered at Riverside Hospital for many years, and traveled in their RV with friends for fun but they also traveled around the country working on projects for Mobile Missionary Assistance Program. Through the years, Mom and Dad had daily devotions and prayer for their family. We will miss these faithful parents greatly, but we will spend eternity together - because of Jesus.

Lorna is pre-deceased by parents, Christian and Hattie Stouffer and sister Dorothy Svoboda.

Marvin is pre-deceased by parents Henry and Mattie Ives, and brothers: Wilford, Jimmy, and Charlie.

They leave behind: Marvin's sister, Frances Proctor of Corrigan, Texas; daughter Kathi and husband Larry Staton of Wichita, Kansas; son, Kevin and wife Karin Ives of Zig Zag, Oregon.

Grandchildren: Hilary Staton of Los Angeles, CA; Stephanie Pedersen and husband Trevor of Wichita, Ks; Kevin Christopher Ives of Wichita, KS; Denise Williamson of Oregon; Brian Williamson and wife Ashley of Virginia.

Great grandchildren: Brodie Staton, Emma Pedersen, Hunter Ives of Wichita area; Hill and Quin Redmond and Oliver Hoffman of Oregon.

Ten nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

The family wishes to extend our deepest appreciation, love and gratitude to the staff at Victoria Falls Skilled Nursing, Andover, and Rivercross Hospice for their love, compassion, and caring for Dad and Mom, and our family.

These words were penned by Marvin's hand in 2002, at the age of 87:

Born, MAY 3, 1915, on Grandfather's Timber claim in Stafford County, KS, seven miles north of St. John. No art was taught in grade or High School. I graduated in 1933. Did all kinds of farm work and worked in Oil Fields operating a "cat" and Bulldozer. Started college career in 1935 in York, Nebraska. Married in 1939 and we moved to Emporia, KS where I majored in art. As a sophomore, I was elected to the upper class honorary art society: "AOP". Worked in woodwork shop, service station, all night garage. In 1941, an art teacher got me a job in window display at a small ladies ready to wear and dry goods store where I worked until 1951. During the war, I worked in Quality Control at Pratt-Whitney in K.C., Missouri. Moved to Wichita in 1951 and worked at Boeing in Quality Control (inspecting B47 Bombers) 'til I got a job in window display at Henry's clothing store ... and was display manager at their Twin Corners Stores. About 1964, I went to McCormick Armstrong Printing Co. as a production artist. Worked at this profession for 17 years, retiring from Letters Inc. Retired in 1981. Traveled and camped in several states. Traversed Canada, worked with Mobile Missionary Assistance Program projects from Southern Texas, to Upper Peninsula in Michigan. Sold our home in 2001 and moved to Maple Gardens in Wichita, Ks in February of that year. Been helping residents to paint and enjoying the life here very much. My wife, Lorna, has been with me for 63 years and is very active in the "Village" here. Don't know what I'd do without her.

Memorial Service

Time: 1:30pm, Tuesday, October 25, 2016 Place: Central Christian Church - Chapel
2900 N. Rock Rd., Wichita, KS 67226

Private Family Graveside

Place: White Chapel Cemetery
1824 N. Oliver, Wichita, KS 67208

Memorials

Central Christian Academy
2900 N. Rock Rd.
Wichita, KS 67226

Macular Degeneration Research
22512 Gateway Center Dr.
Clarksburg, MD 20871
www.macular.com

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