Obituary

Mary Elinor (McKenzie) Forcum

2013 – 2014

Obituary

Mary Elinor Forcum 100, died Saturday March 15, 2014 at Asbury Park Greenhouse in Newton,

Kansas. She was born December 9, 1913 to W.F. and Katherine (Doering) McKenzie. She was the sixth

of 12 children.

Elinor grew up on a farm near Eureka, Kansas. She attended and graduated from

Tonovay Rural School. She then attended Emporia State Teachers College, earning a teaching

certificate. She taught in one room school houses in Greenwood County and then one year in

Oakley, Kansas. In 1940 Elinor married Harold Lester Forcum. To this union four children were

born: John Harold Forcum (1942) Marsha M. Forcum (1944) Janet Alice Forcum (1946) and Ardys

Kay Forcum (1949). In 1950 the family moved to Piedmont, Kanas area where they later purchased

a home.

Elinor was a homemaker and active in the United Methodist Church as well as sewing

leader for the 4-H club. She also served on the Piedmont Grade School Board of Education. In

1965 the family moved to Potwin, Kansas where Elinor attended and graduated from Bethel

College in 1968. In October of 1969 her husband Harold passed away. Elinor then moved to Burns,

Kansas in 1970 where she taught elementary school until her mandatory retirement in 1975.

She then moved to Asbury Park in Newton, Kansas in 1976 where she was very active in the First

United Methodist Church and played a large role in their reading program. During her retirement

Elinor enjoyed making quilts for all 11 of her grandchildren on their 14th

wall hangings for them when they were married. Elinor enjoyed walking every morning and was

involved in Bible study groups and made notes on note cards that the grandchildren would read.

Elinor is preceded in death by her parents, 11 siblings, husband Harold Forcum in 1969 and son

John Harold in 2001.

She is survived by her sister Alice Smart of Atchinson, Kansas; Daughters: Marsha (Wolfe) Forcum

of North Newton, Kansas; Janet Groninga (Steve) of Manhattan, Kansas; Ardys (Bader) Maxson

(Chuck) of Clearwater, Kansas; daughter in law Jo Forcum of Wichita, Kansas. She is also survived

by 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren as well as a host of other family members and

friends.

We are so thankful for the life of Elinor Forcum and the good memories of her life. Whole it is

never easy to let go and say goodbye, we are grateful her struggle has ended and she is at peace.

We are blessed to know her spirit will continue to be with us.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at First United Methodist Church

with Chaplain Jay Anderson presiding. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday evening with the

family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday March 19, 2014 at Star Cemetery in Rural

Beaumont, Kansas

Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church in care of Petersen Funeral Home.