Anna Millicent (Noel) Meyer

Anna Millicent (Noel) Meyer, 97, Ellinwood, Kan., passed away on Jan. 31. Born Oct. 10, 1920, to Karl F. and Lydia E. Naffziger Noel, Millicent grew up on the Noel family farm near Bronaugh, the second of three daughters with one younger brother.

Graduating valedictorian from Bronaugh High School in 1938, Millicent was a forward on the basketball team and had close friends that she stayed in touch with in later years. Following high school, she worked for TWA Airlines in Kansas City. In 1939 Millicent entered Southwest Missouri State College at Springfield, in her second semester transferring to Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg, Kan. Attending college in summers, Millicent taught in one room, rural schools in Vernon County. While at Kansas State Teachers College she accepted a position to teach at Washington School in Great Bend, Kan. She later completed her degree in 1965 at Sterling College, Sterling, Kan.

In October 1946 Millicent met the love of her life, George Albert Meyer, at the roller skating rink in Great Bend, Kan. They were married on June 24, 1947, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pittsburg, Kan., and made their home in Ellinwood. There they were lifelong members of St. John’s Lutheran Church. When their five children had all entered school, Millicent taught at Wheatland School, a rural school south of Ellinwood; later teaching at Ellinwood Elementary School and retiring in 1985. After retirement, she tutored students in her home. She took a special interest in all her students and was proud of their accomplishments. Numerous students helped with her care during the last few years; she especially enjoyed visiting with them. Millicent was a member of LWML, Retired Teachers of Barton County and enjoyed the monthly Ellinwood retired teacher luncheons until unable to attend.

Millicent was preceded in death by her husband, George A Meyer, who passed away April 11, 2010; her parents; her sister, Geraldine (Noel) Roggensees; her son-in-law, Rick L. DeTour; and a nephew, Karl Edward Range. She is survived by her five children, Madeline (Frank) Gabriel, San Diego, Calif., Elaine (Pete) DeTour-Spronken, Tucson, Ariz., Natalie (Kenny) Windholz, Gorham, Kan., Edward (Barbara) Meyer, Wichita, Kan., and Richard (Nicolette) Meyer, Wichita, Kan. She is also survived by her sister, Marjorie Range, Nevada; and her brother, Norman (Rosemary) Noel, Bronaugh; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life was held Feb. 2, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellinwood with the Rev. Clarke Davis officiating. Interment was held that afternoon at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran cemetery north of Tampa, Kan.