Elsie M. Vail, 97, a longtime educator and resident of Altamont, passed away at 12:15 p.m., Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Brookdale Rosehill in Shawnee, Kansas.
She was born December 15, 1918 in Parsons, Kansas to Lindley Lester and Clora Maude (Roberts) Long.
On March 1, 1942, she and Mertis Duane Vail were married in Labette City. He preceded her in death on October 22, 1966.
Elsie's love for children was witnessed daily during her 26 year tenure while teaching in Labette County schools, as a Girl Scout and 4-H leader. She was a judge at several fairs in Southeast Kansas and is in the Kanas Fairs and Festivals Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Altamont United Methodist Church, the KNEA (Kansas National Education Association), the Audubon Society, and FCE (Family and Community Education, formally known as Home Demonstration Unit) in Labette County.
For many years, Elsie wrote articles for the Altamont Journal. She loved reporting on the current events of her community and was always eager to be involved in its activities. She had a wealth of knowledge regarding Labette County and was often referred to as the "historian" of Altamont and the surrounding area. She always had time to visit with her family, friends, neighbors, and former students and especially looked forward to spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include:
One Son – Mertis Linn Vail and his wife, Judy, Texhoma, OK
One Daughter – Dr. Belinda Vail and her husband Dr. Richard Bené, Prairie Village, KS
Five Grandchildren -- Dustin Carrillo and wife Lori, Shawnee, KS
Ryan Verstraete and husband Craig, Lenexa, KS
Matthew Bené, Prairie Village, KS
Michael Bené, Wichita, KS
Morgan Bené, Prairie Village, KS
Four Great-Grandchildren -- Beau and Isla Verstraete and Beckham and Genevieve Carrillo
A Host of Friends
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 2016 at the Altamont United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Following burial on Thursday afternoon, family and friends will gather at the funeral home for further visiting.
Memorials are suggested to Labette County 4-H. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elsie M. Vail, please visit our flower store.
She was born December 15, 1918 in Parsons, Kansas to Lindley Lester and Clora Maude (Roberts) Long.
On March 1, 1942, she and Mertis Duane Vail were married in Labette City. He preceded her in death on October 22, 1966.
Elsie's love for children was witnessed daily during her 26 year tenure while teaching in Labette County schools, as a Girl Scout and 4-H leader. She was a judge at several fairs in Southeast Kansas and is in the Kanas Fairs and Festivals Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Altamont United Methodist Church, the KNEA (Kansas National Education Association), the Audubon Society, and FCE (Family and Community Education, formally known as Home Demonstration Unit) in Labette County.
For many years, Elsie wrote articles for the Altamont Journal. She loved reporting on the current events of her community and was always eager to be involved in its activities. She had a wealth of knowledge regarding Labette County and was often referred to as the "historian" of Altamont and the surrounding area. She always had time to visit with her family, friends, neighbors, and former students and especially looked forward to spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include:
One Son – Mertis Linn Vail and his wife, Judy, Texhoma, OK
One Daughter – Dr. Belinda Vail and her husband Dr. Richard Bené, Prairie Village, KS
Five Grandchildren -- Dustin Carrillo and wife Lori, Shawnee, KS
Ryan Verstraete and husband Craig, Lenexa, KS
Matthew Bené, Prairie Village, KS
Michael Bené, Wichita, KS
Morgan Bené, Prairie Village, KS
Four Great-Grandchildren -- Beau and Isla Verstraete and Beckham and Genevieve Carrillo
A Host of Friends
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 2016 at the Altamont United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Following burial on Thursday afternoon, family and friends will gather at the funeral home for further visiting.
Memorials are suggested to Labette County 4-H. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elsie M. Vail, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Altamont: Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home
Funeral Service
Altamont United Methodist Church
Visitation
Altamont: Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home
Videos
Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors