Charlene Lois Garr

Birth: Jun. 30, 1922 Morris County Kansas, USA Death: Jun. 11, 2012 Cottonwood Falls Chase County Kansas, USA

• ************************************** Parent info per Contributor #47033251 (Mae) October 20, 2016
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Charlene L. Garr, age 89, died Monday, June 11, 2012, at the Golden Living Center of Chase County in Cottonwood Falls, KS. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, June 16, 2012, at 10:00 A.M., at the First Baptist Church in Cottonwood Falls. Pastor Steve Strom will conduct the service. Pastor David Hatch will conduct the committal service at the Strong City Cemetery.

Charlene Lois Strom was born June 30, 1922, in Morris County, Kansas to Charley Hugo and Pauline Esther Strom. She attended one room school houses during grade school and went to Parkerville High School for two years.

On August 13, 1938, she was married to William T. (Bill) Garr and they shared a life together for 64 years until his death in 2002. Their marriage produced six children: Lloyd Richard, Edward William, Carol Jean, Dallas Lee, Betsy Ann, and Patsy Sue.

Charlene's early married life was spent helping Bill start a family and working with him at farm life. During the early years of WWII, she worked at the Delavan Army Air Base as a base courier and later as a transport driver hauling supplies from Fort Riley to be loaded on bombers that were destined for duty in the Pacific Theater. One only has to visualize this 5 foot tall, 100 pound, Midwestern girl driving army trucks on a daily basis to realize the total commitment of the nation to winning this war and to appreciate that they are rightfully known as "The Greatest Generation."

After the war, she followed Bill to a series of construction jobs, finally settling in Council Grove in 1951, when he went to work for the State Highway Department. In 1956, they relocated to Strong City and she lived in the same house for the rest of her life.

Charlene worked at a number of jobs over the years. She was a waitress at many local cafes, including the Bank Hotel Cafe, The Hillcrest Manor, and The Flint Hills Truck Shop. She, also, worked at Crawford Manufacturing in Emporia for a time. She would always consider her number one job to be that of Wife, Mother, and Grandmother.

The Baptist churches of Cottonwood Falls and of Parkerville have been a huge part of her life. In the early days of living in Strong City, there were weekly trips back to Parkerville to attend church. It became almost a family tradition to expect at least one flat tire per weekend because of the thin tires and the rough roads. From the early days of the Cottonwood Falls Baptist Church, when it held meetings in downtown Cottonwood Falls, through the time of construction of the existing building, until now when the church is still serving the needs of the community, Charlene could always be counted on for moral guidance, administrative leadership, and financial support.

In their later lives, Charlene and Bill enjoyed traveling. They made countless trips to small out-of-the-way towns in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Their recollections of journeys to the Black Walnut Festival at Stockton, Missouri, the winding streets of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, or the trout hatchery at Roaring River State Park made it obvious to all how much the two appreciated the beauty of the Ozarks and how much they enjoyed spending time with one other.

After Bill's death, Charlene became a companion with Helmut Holle and they have spent several years as good friends. Helmut very much became part of her family and his presence and attention has made her last years much more enjoyable.

Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bill, her brother, Billy, her sons Lloyd and Edward, and her son-in-law Robert Fillmore. She is survived by her son, Dallas, and her daughters, Carol Fillmore, Betsy Heathman, and Patsy Readman. She has 15 Grandchildren, 26 Great-Grandchildren, and two Great-Great Grandchildren. She, also, leaves behind her brother, Bob Strom, and a sister, Kathryn Rogers, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends all who are better for having known her.

Memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church may be sent in care of the funeral home, 201 Cherry, Cottonwood Falls, KS. 66845.

The family will meet friends Friday, from 6:00 until 8:00, at the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home. Friends may call Thursday, 10:00 until 8:00 and Friday, 10:00 until 8:00.

Messages to the family may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com.

Charlene's ultimate legacy will only unfold as people, especially the young ones, travel into the world and share her teachings and ideals to make the world a better place for all. (brown-bennett-alexander.com/obituary)

Family links:

Parents:

 Charles Hugo Strom (1893 - 1977)

 Pauline Esther Mitchell Strom (1899 - 1988)

Spouse:

 William Thomas Garr (1917 - 2002)

Children:

 Edward William Garr (1946 - 2003)*

 Patsy Garr Readman (1955 - 2016)*

Siblings:

 Charlene Lois Strom Garr (1922 - 2012)

 John William Strom (1925 - 1930)*

 Kathryn Esther Rosalie Strom Rogers (1930 - 2016)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Strong Township Cemetery Strong City Chase County Kansas, USA

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