Tonya Biggs Waters, born March 30, 1947, in Concordia, passed away Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 2016, at home surrounded by her family and friends. She was 69.
Her parents, Max and Marian Biggs, soon moved to Phillipsburg, where she spent most of her childhood and adolescence.
She attended Fort Hays State and graduated in three years with a degree in elementary education. She was Homecoming Queen at Ft. Hays State in 1967. After graduation, she began teaching in Dodge City, where she met her first husband, Jack R. Klotz. They soon moved to Iola, and she spent 17 years teaching elementary students. She then pursued a career as a real estate broker. They were divorced in 1986, and Tonya and her two children moved to Lawrence. Jack passed away in 2007.
She met George Waters in 1988. They were married on a mountainside in Frisco, Colo., July 3, 1989.
She went back to her true passion of teaching in the Lawrence elementary schools until her retirement in 2009. Tonya was a great teacher. Many of her former students (and their parents) stayed in touch with her over the years.
Tonya is survived by her husband, George, of the home; her son Britton C. Klotz and significant other Wendy Erbert, Iola; her daughter Bria Klotz Trytten and her husband Ben Trytten, Lawrence; her step-son Matt Waters and his wife, Sara, Castle Rock, Colo.; two siblings, Brett Biggs and wife Cheryl, Phillipsburg, and Vivian McDowell and husband Clayton aka Jr. of Kensington. She also is survived by seven grandchildren and numerous step-grandchildren.
She is also survived by “The Girls,” a group of six women from her years in Iola, and whose bond has only grown closer throughout the years. They have always been each other’s “Rocks” in life.
Tonya was always upbeat, optimistic, kind, and also strong in every respect. She battled Alzheimer’s disease for over six years, and finally cancer for five months, but her attitude was always “What will be will be.” She always said to have a party, so a party we shall have!!
Please join us for a Celebration of Life Sunday at Six Mile Chophouse and Tavern, 4931 W. 6th St., Lawrence, in loving memory of Tonya Rae Waters. Private family celebration is 1-1:45 p.m., then open to friends starting at 1:45. Dress is casual so feel free to come and go anytime between 1:45 and 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Tonya’s favorite charity, Willow Domestic Violence Center, Box 633, Lawrence, Kan., 66044.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal!!
Tonya Waters
