Roberta Glyndon (Wilhite) Mardis was born Monday, Aug. 18, 1958, in Iola, to Robert Frederick Wilhite and Mardell Glyndon (Randall) Wilhite. She passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. She was 60 years old.
Roberta grew up on her parents dairy farm northwest of Yates Center and attended school in Yates Center. She graduated from Yates Center High School in 1976. Roberta then attended Independence Community College for 1.5 years.
She married Daniel Mardis in 1979. From this union they had two daughters. The couple were divorced when the girls were young. Roberta later attended Allen Community College where she earned her associate in arts degree in 1987. Roberta spent most of her life in Yates Center. She sometimes worked multiple jobs to earn a living for herself and her children, along with help from her parents. Roberta worked as a sheriffs office dispatcher, bookkeeper and payroll clerk for the Woodson County Register of Deeds, and was the secretary at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for many years. She also served as a personal care attendant for her oldest daughter and worked part-time for USD. 366 transporting students. As her health declined, she spent a good portion of the past five years in Chanute and Burlington.
Roberta was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren. She never passed up an opportunity to brag about them and their accomplishments to all of her visitors and friends.
She is survived by her daughters, Josie Lee Mardis, Chanute, and Kelly Lynn (Kenny) Baker, Gas; grandsons, Asher Sievers, Yates Center, and Brycen Baker, Gas; brother, Leslie (Shelda) Wilhite; Yates Center, father-in-law, Ronald Lee Mardis and companion Minnie Helms, Medford, Okla. She is also survived by her nieces Anissa Bedard, Ranay Baldwin and Nicole Summerfeld and their families along with a host of other family and friends who mourn at her passing.
Roberta wished to be cremated, with a graveside service to be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Yates Center Cemetery with the Rev. J. Kristina Tenny-Brittain officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Robert Mardis Scholarship Fund (Yates Center High School) and may be sent in care of Campbell Funeral Home, PO Box 188, Yates Center, KS 66783.
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