Nell Sowder, passed away peacefully on November 3rd, 2014, at her home in Lawrence, KS. She was born near Quincy Kansas on February 13th, 1924 to Loleta and Barney Brown. Most of her life was spent in Greenwood County except for the years she spent in the US Navy during WWII. She was stationed in San Francisco in the Fleet Records Office until her discharge in 1946. She then returned to the Quincy area until making the decision to attend Kansas University. Shortly thereafter, her father became ill, and she was called back to the farm to help her mother. At this time, she became reacquainted with Raymond Sowder, a childhood friend. They dated less than a year and were married May 31st, 1947. They had one daughter, Nancy Slabaugh.
You could always find Nell on the family Ranch working beside Raymond. She loved riding horses and helping him with the ranching duties. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing the Cello in music club and playing golf. As Raymond’s health declined, Nell decided to work outside the home, going to work in the Greenwood County Appraiser’s Office. In 1996 Raymond passed away and the Ranch was sold to a special family relative. Nell then moved to Emporia where she lived until 2011. While in Emporia, she was active in the Emporia State University Chorus. In 2011, Nell made the decision to move to Lawrence, KS to be close to her daughter, Nancy. She enjoyed meeting new people here and had many good friends.
Nell is survived by her daughter: Nancy (Pat), Lawrence, Ks. Other survivors include her grandchildren Corey Slabaugh (Mandy) of Broken Arrow, OK, Kacie Budd (Jon) of Wichita, KS, as well as, 3 great grandchildren, Luke, Delaney and Sofia. Other survivors include her sister Mary Ellen Mock (John), of Eureka and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at the Cowboy Church in Toronto, KS at 1:30, November 15th, 2014.
The family suggests memorials to Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment or Grace Hospice, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.
