Colleen Stagner
HURST, Texas - Colleen Stagner, 81, died peacefully Feb. 8,
2010, in her home in Hurst, Texas, following a long illness.
She was born Colleen Ellen Doyle on May 14, 1928, in Lima,
Ohio, where she spent her childhood, graduating from Lima High School in 1946.
She then moved to Kansas and attended McPherson College,
receiving a teaching certificate. She taught elementary school in Claflin prior
to her marriage to Lloyd E. Stagner in 1951. They moved to Hutchinson and then
Newton, raising three children.
After her children were grown, she continued to pursue her
education, obtaining her bachelor's degree in 1981 from Bethel College in North
Newton. She worked in administrative positions in education and mental health
as an employee of Bethel College and Prairie View Mental Health Center. She
later moved to Wichita and pursued a career in life insurance, retiring as a
supervisor for Royal Neighbors of America. She was a member of First
Presbyterian Church of Wichita. She moved to Texas in 2000 to be closer to her
family.
She was known throughout her life for her cheery, easy-going
disposition and her love of conversation. She loved to socialize, made many
life-long friends and was truly a "people person."
She had a progressive social consciousness and a great
concern for not only the well being of her loved ones, but for all humanity.
Throughout her life, she was active in her churches and continued to serve her
community through volunteer work in her retirement.
She was a lover of beauty and nature, with an appreciation
of the fine arts, classical music and literature. She enjoyed creating with her
hands, reading, singing, dancing, gardening, traveling, and visiting her
children and grandchildren. Small children and dogs always brought a smile to
her face, even at the end of her illness.
Survivors include a daughter, Marla Jane Summer of South
Paris, Maine; son, Murray L. Stagner, his wife, Lana, and granddaughter Shauna
of Grapevine, Texas; and son, Matthew W. Stagner, his wife, Lisa Lombard, and
granddaughters Nora and Abby of Oak Park, Ill.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be
made to Alzheimer's Disease Research, a program of the American Health
Assistance Foundation, Clarksburg, Md., or to Botanica, the Wichita Gardens.
Memorial service will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 27,
2010) at First United Methodist Church in Grapevine, Texas.
