E. Marie Beesley, daughter of Clifford James Bland and Ethel Marie (Johnson) was born July 28, 1927 west of Gove, KS on a small grain/cattle farm. She passed from this world on Wednesday afternoon, June 10, 2020 at the age of 92 years.

Marie was the middle child of six; She had two older brothers, Clifford and Kenneth, a younger sister, Elinor, a younger brother, Wayne and an adopted brother, Don. Marie's father started building a rock barn, sheds, windbreak walls and a stone garage on their land west of Gove, but he soon stopped to build a red tile basement, (not rock). When the Depression hit, building plans came to a halt and they lived in the basement until moving into town for a time. Marie's father was Sheriff from 1940-1944. They moved back to the farm sometime after her father left office in January 1944.

Marie graduated high school on May 21, 1945. She went on to spend seven weeks in summer school in 1945 in Hays, KS. She began teaching her first year of school, south of Gove, in September of 1945. She taught rural school for two years. It was during this time that she met her future husband. Even though they were born only 16 miles apart from one another, they had never met. Gail had gone to the country school where Marie later taught. She and Gail were of the same faith and married a year later on September 28, 1947 in her mother's home, west of Gove. Gail and Marie bought their first farm eighteen months later and lived there for thirteen years before moving into town in May of 1960. Marie continued to live there for fifty-four years until going into the LTCF in Quinter, KS in 2014. She and Gail were married for almost fifty-six years. They raised three children; Linda Ann, Marvin Gail and Jeanette Marie. They vacationed with their children in many areas of the United States for both pleasure and knowledge. Marie always wanted to learn more and to teach others.

After marriage, she worked on the family farm, as needed. She was a stay-at-home wife and mother with some short time jobs in between. She served as the City Treasurer, Water Supervisor and Assistant County Register of Deeds. Marie held varying service positions; many of which were in the local Methodist church, where she taught both children and adults in Sunday School, helped with the Youth Choir, sang in the adult choir, was involved with M.Y.F. and was a member of Eastern Star for over 50 years. Marie helped restore and brought a lot of books into the old library, which had previously been the old grade school. She represented nine counties in the Area Agency on Aging; serving first in the nutrition program and then later, on the Board of Directors. She was responsible for bringing the government meals program and transportation van for the aging to Gove and was co-chairman-treasurer when building the local Senior Center, which is now the city library.

Marie played softball with both daughters until her 40th birthday. She enjoyed crosswords, jig-saw puzzles and most games, both table and computer. Marie always got the kids together at family reunions and got them started playing board games. A family favorite was Marbles. Marie enjoyed sewing. She made many clothes, and later in life, many quilts. She gave many of those quilts away to family and grandchildren. She was an avid reader of fiction and poetry, but she also enjoyed novels based on history and biographies of our early nation builders. Like her mother and grandmother, she wrote poetry and was always passing down sayings from their generation, as well as her own. She enjoyed her vegetable garden and flowers. In the summertime, you could always find Marie outdoors.

Preceding her in death were her parents, three brothers, one sister, her husband, a son-in-law, Jess Johnson and a great-grandson, Vinn Justice. To mourn her passing, she leaves behind her brother Don Bland of McPherson, KS, her three children, Linda Johnson of Quinlan, OK, Marvin Beesley and wife Susan of Gove, KS, Jeanette Burgardt and husband Don of Claremore, OK. Also mourning her loss are seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends.

Marie knew the Lord as her Savior and as a guiding force in her life. It can truthfully be said, "The world is a better place because she lived."

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at Grainfield Methodist Church.  Burial will follow at Gove Cemetery, Gove, KS.  A dinner will follow at Gove Community Bible Church.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial contributions are suggested to Gove County Medical Center, Long Term Care (GCMC-LTC) or Grainfield United Methodist Church (Grainfield UMC).  Donations to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS  67752.

Condolences may be left for the family by signing the guestbook on this page.