Louise McCartee was born January 23, 1925, in Logan County, KS, and passed away Tuesday, July 6, 2010 in the Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care in Quinter at the age of 85. She was the daughter of Arthur Wesley and Viola Ellen (Newell) Luther.

Louise was raised on a farm four and a half miles west of McAllister, KS where she attended grade school. She was baptized as a child in the Smoky Hill River. Her family later moved to Winona so she could attend high school. Louise graduated from Winona High School May 14, 1944.


After high school, Louise worked at the Farmers State Bank in Winona. On June 14, 1947, she was united in marriage to a World War II veteran, Loyal Duane Siemers. Louise and Duane had two daughters, Erma Rogene and Lucinda.

In 1954, Louise and her two daughters moved to Quinter where she trained and worked as a practical nurse at the Gove County Hospital. She later worked in the First National Bank.

She married Marvin McCartee on November 8, 1958, in the United Methodist Church at Quinter. She moved to Utica and in this marriage, a son, Vernon Leon, was born and died a few hours after birth on January 12, 1960.

Louise spent her time in the home as a dedicated mother to her daughters and helped Marvin raise his four children. After the six children were raised, she helped Marvin in the L&M Market and Variety Store and later in a heating and air conditioning business. She began cooking for the Utica schools in 1977 and was the head cook for seventeen years before she retired in May of 1994.

Louise looked forward to retirement and her return to Quinter where she enjoyed friends, coffee and other social gatherings. She also cooked or helped at the Senior Center, delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the thrift store. She moved to Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care for excellent care in January, 2008.


No tribute could be great enough for Louise. She was known and loved for her steadfastness, strength of heart, matter-of-fact and unique sense of humor, and expressions of love and caring for her family and friends without insisting on her own way or needing recognition. She knew what each family member liked and gave it to them in simple ways.


Louise was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin; an infant son, Vernon Leon McCartee; and a daughter Lucinda Nelson.


She is survived by a daughter, Erma Rogene Magie, of Quinter; a son-in-law, Jerry Nelson of Topeka; a granddaughter, Michele Magie, of Wichita; three grandsons, Dan Magie and wife, Phung, of Bangkok, Thailand, Joseph Magie and wife, Jessica, of Bangkok, Thailand, and Derek Nelson, of Topeka; a great-grandson, Bpok; and a great-granddaughter, Janejirah of Bangkok, Thailand. She also has two sisters, Marjorie Walker and Rosalie Cheney and husband, Carroll, all of Utica; and two brothers, Lloyd Luther of Winona, and Lyle Luther of Effingham, IL.

A Memorial service for Louise will be held 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 in Schmitt Funeral Home, at Quinter, KS with inurnment in the Utica Cemetery, Utica, KS. No visitation is planned.

Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church in Utica or the Quinter Senior Citizen's Center and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S Main, Quinter, KS 67752.