Mary Ellen (Kinzie) Flory

Mary Ellen (Kinzie) Flory, daughter of Elso & Alice (Blickenstaff) Kinzie, was born on September 26, 1921, in Pratt County, Kansas. Mother peacefully passed from this life into eternity on February 7^th, 2014, at the age of 92 years, 4 months and 12 days. She confessed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized on October 11, 1940. From the day of her public confession until her death, she enjoyed the rich blessings of fellowship in the Old German Baptist Brethren Church.

On May 17, 1942 she was united in marriage to Harold Kenneth Flory, near Sawyer, Kansas. Together they worshipped, operated a dairy farm, traveled, raised four sons, and enjoyed 21 years of married life. On September 14^th, 1963 her husband preceded her in death, after a tragic farm accident. Also preceding her in death were her parents; one son, Eldon; three brothers, Ray, Russell, and John; two sisters, Ethel Beeghley and Lois Flory; two brothers-in-law, John Beeghley and Wayne Flory; one infant granddaughter, and an infant great-granddaughter and great grandson.

She is survived by: Son Donald and wife Kathy; daughter-in-law Cheryl and husband Michael Flory; Son Ralph; Son Merle and wife Judith; eight grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law: Olive Kinzie and Anna Kinzie; as well as nephews, nieces, and friends.

The beauty of a little prairie girl’s heart, mixed with the reality of hard times, and the fleshing out of her faith in God, is what made up the life we will remember. Waking up a widow at 41 years old, cows to milk, crops to harvest, wood to chop and boys to raise she was heard to say, “we are not quitting, we are going right on” and she did by the Grace of God and the help of many neighbors, friends, and brethren far and near. She demonstrated a servant spirit with much hospitality, joyfulness, flexibility, availability, and endurance to the end.

The struggle to embrace her losses, make a living, raise a family, pass on the faith, and bless others, kept her heart tender and hands busy night and day. Mother spent her time with Dairy herd management, gardening and quilting.  Upon liquidating the dairy in 1983, she became a faithful vender at the Lawrence Farmers Market and was well known for her many varieties of delicious homemade breads.  These are a few of the precious memories she leaves with us.

Mother was a woman of faith and prayer, possessing the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is of great price in the sight of God.  She often used three little words when disappointments came, “God knows Best.”

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, therefore our loss is her gain.

Funeral services will be 10 am Friday, February 14, 2014, at Willow Springs Old German Baptist Brethren Meeting House. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Grove, Kan.

Friends may call Thursday 9 am to 8 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home where the family will great friends from 5 to 7 pm.