Gloria Jean Folkers, age 85, of WaKeeney, passed away Saturday August 13, 2016 at her daughter's home in Houston, TX

Gloria Jean Stowe Folkers was born at the Ransom Hospital on March 21, 1931. She was the second child born to Willard and Hollis (Farmer) Stowe. Her childhood was spent on the family farm playing with her siblings, riding Old Paint, and helping with the farm work. One of her favorite tales was killing a rattlesnake with only a bridle rein. Gloria was tougher than she looked.

She and Melvin met at the skating rink in Ransom. She celebrated her 16th birthday with her first plane ride with Melvin as pilot. They were married in the Ransom Methodist Church on April 24, 1949, and moved to the family farm in Trego County where together they worked the land that had been in the family for generations. Melvin and Gloria were blessed with 64 years of marriage and five children, Pamela, Karla, Brian, Krista, and Kara plus honorary son, Jack. Family was always a priority for her. Anywhere Gloria went, her girls went. And anything Gloria did, her girls did too.

Gloria was always willing to accept a challenge. One of those challenges was teaching country school at age 16 with only a summer of college education. She said that the eighth grade boys were much bigger than she was. She was always a teacher, whether she was teaching someone to paint, draw, embroidery, bake, or shoot. She loved to foster new interests.

Always ambitious, she earned her Art Education Degree in 1980 (the same year Krista graduated from high school) and taught art at Hill City and Cuba. She earned a Master's Degree in 1989.

Many organizations were blessed with Gloria's talents; EHU, Harmony Club, 4-H, Eastern Star, Rebeccas, the Library Board, the Presbyterian Church, the Historical Society, Saline Valley Buckskinners, Saddle Club, Silver Haired Legislatures and many others.

Survivors include four daughters, Pamela Davis of Houston, Texas, Karla and husband Jay Currie of Topeka, Kansas, Krista and husband Jim Dietz of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kara and husband Sal Canjura of Houston, Texas; honorary son, Jack WieSel of Noble, Oklahoma; three sisters, Gwen Klitzke of Ransom, Kansas, Pat Frey of Wamego, Kansas, Claudia Neyer of Ransom, Kansas; seven grandchildren Dedee Novak of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Marcus Martin of Merriam, Kansas, Clair and Austin Dietz of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kaitlin McMahan, Luciana and Brian Canjura of Houston, Texas; two step grandchildren Megan Davis of Austin, Texas and TJ Davis of Brooklyn, New York and one great granddaughter, Allison Novak of Lee's Summit, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin; her son, Brian Ray Folkers; parents, Willard and Hollis Stowe; and brother, Lloyd Stowe.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church, WaKeeney. Burial will be in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday evening, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial contributions are suggested to Fort Hays State University Art Department (for a scholarship fund). Checks made to the department may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

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