Services for Ella Holt McNatt, 94, Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2013, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
Mrs. McNatt died Thursday, August 29, 2013, at Brandon Woods.
She was born May 20, 1919, near Deerfield, Kansas, the daughter of Hubert Francis Holt and Edna Lee Wantland Holt. She graduated from Bristow, Oklahoma, High School in 1937, and from Central State Normal College in Edmond, Oklahoma, in 1941.
She worked at the American Red Cross and Armed Forces Technical Training Command in Tulsa, Oklahoma, prior to her marriage. Following her marriage, she taught high school English in Shidler, Oklahoma, Derby, Kansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. She also volunteered as a greeter at the Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Chamber of Commerce, and also taught English as a second language in Pagosa Springs. She was a talented quilter and enjoyed teaching Seminole patchwork to fellow quilters. She was a member of the Methodist church in whatever community she lived.
She married Sam Brooks McNatt on December 29, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He preceded her in death on November 10, 2009.
Survivors include three daughters, Jimmie Benedict (Ron Phaneuf), Redstone, Colorado, Sammie (Jeff) Messick, Lawrence, Kansas, Billie (Ron) DuVal, Wichita, Kansas, and one son, Sam Hugh McNatt, Katy, Texas, six grandsons and nine great-grandchildren.
The family wants to thank the staff from The Windsor, Brandon Woods, and Grace Hospice for caring for Mrs. McNatt for the past few years.
The family will greet friends following the service at 631 Ohio St., Lawrence.
The family suggests memorials to Grace Hospice, sent in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
Our condolences go out to the family and friends. Although we did not know her that well personally, we did know her quite well through her daughter, Billie. We know she will be missed but will live on through her children and grandchildren. God’s peace and love to all!
Ella was the first person who greeted us the first time we attended Community United Methodist Church in Pagosa Springs. She welcomed us and visited with us. She and Sam were always so funny and nice to be around. What a lovely lady.
We have so many wonderful memories of Ella and Sam from the years we lived in Pagosa Springs. They were both wonderful people, but I especially enjoyed Ella’s talents, including quilt making, wreath making, and flower arranging when she patiently taught me how to make wreaths at the annual wreath-making project in Pagosa Springs Methodist Church. We worked hard but more importantly we laughed and shared God’s Love during those days. She will be missed.