Jessie Willodean Plymell

Jessie Willodean Plymell, 96, Hays, died Monday, June 26, 2023, at Via Christi Village of Hays.

She was born April 4, 1927, in McFall, Mo., the daughter of Durward Basil and Frances Mildred (Duerson) Royston. On Dec. 23, 1944, she was united in marriage to Harold A. Plymell in Troy, Kan., and they celebrated their 78th Anniversary last year.

Willodean graduated from Pattonsburg High School in Pattonsburg, Mo., in 1945. In 1949, Harold and Willodean and their son, Larry moved to the Sheldon, Mo., area to farm. Shirley, Ron, and Dean were all born in Lamar, Mo. In 1964, the family began custom harvesting, which they did before moving to Scott City, Kan., in 1967.

Harold and Willodean moved to Hays, Kan., in 1974. They continued the custom harvesting until 1977. In 1978, they began over the road trucking with their own semi. They were both drivers until they retired in 1990. They enjoyed seeing the country during their many years of trucking, and Willodean was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hays.

Survivors include her husband, Harold of Hays; children, Larry and Darlene Plymell of Hays, Shirley and Ron Suppes of Dighton, Kan., Ron and Carol Plymell of Assaria, Kan., and Dean and Bonnie Plymell of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a sister, Carolyn Gordon of Nevada, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Molly Legleiter (Shawn) of Hays, Shandi Westergard (Chris) of Scott City, Sherry Kinderknecht (Norman) of Colby, Courtney Britton of Colby, Shayne Suppes (Amanda Ruth) of Scott City, Rusty Plymell (Christina) of Lakewood, Colo., Jeremy Plymell (Shannon) of Independence, and Aaron Plymell (Diana) of Park City; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of Willodean’s life will be at 10 a.m., on Saturday, July 1, at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. Inurnment will follow in Mt. Allen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi Village in Hays.

Condolences and memories of Willodean may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com.