Laura Lee Tholin-Shell
Obituary
Laura Lee Tholin-Shell, 91, of Newton,
formerly of Junction City, died Wednesday (Feb. 1, 2017) at Newton
Medical Center in Newton. Laura was born March 18, 1925, in Augusta,
Montana, the daughter of Lawrence and Flora (Sangray) Lucero. She
attended schools in Montana. She later attended Old Trooper
University at Fort Riley for three years. She worked as a sales
department manager at Montgomery Ward Store in Junction City, and
later at Sears and J.C. Penney Stores in Manhattan.
Laura was a former member of, and very
active in, the Church of the Nazerene, where she taught Sunday School
and was on the Hospitality/Outreach Committee for the church; she was
past-President of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) (Junction City
Chapter), and had served as Secretary of the Senior Center in
Junction City. She was also active with her quilting club and enjoyed
oil painting. She also enjoyed writing poetry and writing family
history.
Laura married Donald C. Tholin on
August 20, 1943, in Paulsbo, Washington. Donald died March 24, 1994.
She later married Carl Shell on April 26, 2008 in Junction City. Carl
died January 17, 2015.
Survivors include a daughter, Lee
Mellinger and husband Jerry of Newton; a foster-son, Bob Freeman of
North Carolina; a foster-daughter, Janice Tidd of Grandview Plaza; a
brother, Samuel Lucero of Great Falls, Montana; two sisters, Loraine
Walker and Shirley Rust, both of Great Falls, Montana; four
grandchildren, John Mellinger, Eric Tholin, Bruce Mellinger and Lisa
Long; and 11 great-grandchildren, Aaron, Alec, Gunner Tholin, Austin,
Jacob, Megan and Griffin Long, Lauren and Courtney Mellinger, and
Kayla and Jaden Mellinger. She was preceded in death by a son, Donald
C. Tholin, in 1970; five brothers; and three sisters.
A graveside service will be at 3 p.m.
Monday (Feb. 6, 2017) at the Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan. The family
will greet friends beginning at 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the
Penwell-Gabel Junction City Funeral Chapel, 203 N. Washington,
Junction City, KS.
Memorial contributions may be made to
the Arthritis Foundation or Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E. Rochhill,
Ste. 403, Wichita, Kansas 67206.
To leave a special online message for
the family, visit: www.PenwellGabelJunctionCity.com
