Irene (Willard) Laflin

Irene Laflin

1929 - 2015 | Obituary

Irene (Willard) Laflin passed from this life June 15, 2015 in Newton, Kansas. Born to Retha Wheeler & Harlow Willard June 27th, 1929 in Oak Hill, Kansas. She married Myron Laflin on March 17, 1950 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Their family grew to include three daughters; Sharon, Ruby & Diane. The family lived in California until 1976, when they moved back to Kansas so they could care for their aging parents. Irene loved doing things with her family including traveling, spending time at the farm in Jamestown, going to yard sales, and crafts.

There were always family meals, especially with a family that continued to grow. Irene was creative, a few memorable items she crafted include custom Christmas trees, one of Beanie Babies, which she collected, and another Victorian Christmas tree, of which the wooden ornaments were all handmade. Irene and Myron enjoyed woodworking projects together, Myron would prepare the wood and Irene would finish it off with paint.

They were members of the First Church of the Nazarene in Newton and also enjoyed being active members of the South Central Kansas Mustang Club, showing their 1972 Mustang. Irene loved being around the kids, grand kids, and great grand kids, easily demonstrated in the shadowboxes she created. The shadowboxes contain family memorabilia, she was always celebrating family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Myron Laflin; brothers, Clayton Willard, and Larry Willard; sisters, Maxine Leader, Donna Petersen, Wilma Sutter and Patty Willard.

She is survived by daughters, Sharon and Bill Hanley; Ruby Summus and Diane Burroughs; 6 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday June 18, 2015 at Petersen Funeral Home from 5-9 p.m., family will greet friends from 6:30 – 8:00. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday June 19, 2015 at Petersen Funeral Home. Memorials may be made out to First Church of the Nazarene or South Central Kansas Mustang Club in c/o Petersen Funeral Home.

Published in The Kansan on June 18, 2015