Mary Elizabeth Clemans, 92, Colony, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015.
Mary was born Dec. 19, 1922, at Roseland, the daughter of William Henry and Nannie Lee (Mishler) Best. She graduated from McCune High School in 1940 and attended Pittsburg Teachers College in Pittsburg.
On May 17, 1942, Mary married Earl R. Clemans, Jr. at the home of her parents south of McCune. They moved to Colony in August of that year, where they lived for 66 years. Mr. Clemans preceded her in death on Jan. 7, 2009.
Mary received her associate degree from Allen Community College and bachelor’s degree in education from Emporia State University. Mary loved to teach school. She taught in several one-room schools in the mid to late 1950s and later taught at Lone Elm and Le Roy and taught many years at Burlington Elementary School, retiring in 1984.
She lived her retirement life to the fullest, enjoying many hours of fishing, bike riding, riding four wheelers and Earl’s Bronco scooter with Earl, her children and grandchildren. She lived every day to the fullest and especially enjoyed antiquing with Earl and Bonnie. She also loved to play and coach softball and cheering for Earl’s basketball teams. She collected hundreds of hats. She was known as “The Hat Lady” and would present programs on them.
Mary was a member of Colony Community Church since it was organized in 1957. She also served as librarian at the Colony City Library for a number of years.
She is survived by three sons: Dwight Clemans and wife, Edie, Marshall, Texas, Marvin Clemans and wife, Wanda, Derby, and Arvin Clemans and wife, Kathy, Iola; one daughter, Bonnie Sjogren and husband, Charles, Concordia; one brother-in-law, Julius Clemans and his wife, Janice, Jacksonville, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren and seven great-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl R. Clemans, Jr., two brothers, John Best and Miles Richard Best, and two sisters, Dorthy Sartin and Anna Irene Hornbeck.
Visitation will be 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Colony Community Church in Colony. Burial will be at Colony Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Colony Community Church or The Gideons International. Memorial gifts may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola, which is in charge of arrangements.
To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Mary Clemans
