With great sadness, the family of Megan Louise Ebke, 47, of Lawrence, Kansas, announce her death on August 15, 2025.
Diagnosed with gallbladder cancer in January 2019, Megan beat the odds and managed to stay ahead of it for years before throwing in the towel.
With a stage three and two stage four diagnoses, Megan joked she was a stage 11 cancer patient. Even though the disease continued to metastasize, she never gave up trying to stay alive for her family.
Born June 6, 1978, in Winchester, Kansas to Robert and Maxine (Tucker) Keaton, Megan graduated from Jefferson West High School, Meriden, Kansas, in 1996 and Doane College in Crete, Nebraska in 2000. It was at Doane where Megan truly thrived and developed her love of music, others, and standing up for the underdog. Her junior year, Megan spent the year in Rennes, France, in the home of Agnes, Clementine, and Pierre-Antoine Guegan.
After earning her Bachelor of Arts in French, Megan attended Indiana University in pursuit of a master’s degree in French linguistics before going to Rockhurst University where she earned her M.Ed. in May 2005. She taught various age levels and subjects in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas before leaving the profession in 2022. Megan loved her students and was active in the Kansas National Educators Association, advocating for public education and students in Kansas.
Aaron Ebke and Megan wed June 14, 2013, in Kansas City, Kansas, and welcomed their son Robert (Bobby) George a year and a half later. Named for her late father, Bobby was the light of Megan’s life.
Those who knew Megan loved her for her smile, quick wit, and endless optimism even in the direst circumstances. She had a magnetic personality, drawing people into her circle and making them feel like they were the most important in the world.
Along with visiting with friends, Megan loved music, good books, writing, crochet, and travel. Entertaining others through singing was one of her greatest pleasures in life.
Megan’s father and mother preceded her in death.
Her husband and son survive of the home, along with her mother-in-law, Vicki Mundinger. She is also survived by her grandmother, Emily Hough of Joplin, Missouri; her brother, Miles (Cortney) Keaton of Louisburg, Kansas and three beloved nieces, Skylar, Sydney, and Lindsay Keaton; her brother-in-law Timothy (Lindsey) Ebke of Waterville, Ohio; and her father-in-law Al (Ursula) Ebke of Lockport, Illinois and many Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Memorials may be directed to the family to support their son Bobby’s future; any remaining funds will be used to establish a scholarship in Megan’s honor at Doane University, benefiting students pursuing studies in Music, Foreign Language, and Education.
A Memorial Service will be 2 pm, Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. A Visitation will be from 6-7 pm, Friday, September 5, 2025, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at Winchester Wise Cemetery, Winchester, Kansas.
