Elma Adaline Underwood

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Elma Adaline Underwood, age 78, resident of rural Fort Scott, died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo. She was born Jan. 27, 1931, on the family farm south of Fort Scott, the daughter of Henry Norman Hawkins and Adaline Julia Juanita Osborn Hawkins. She graduated from the Fort Scott High School in 1948. She married Eldon Underwood in January of 1952, at Girard, Kan. Elma was employed by the Western Insurance Company for more than 40 years. She held a variety of positions at the Western beginning as a file clerk and retiring as an underwriter and executive secretary. She was an active member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church. She also enjoyed reading.

Survivors include her husband, Eldon, of the home; a brother, Eldon Hawkins, Sulphur, Louisiana; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The Rev. Dale Cummins will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Cherry Grove Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Large Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Cherry Grove Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com.