Laura F. Gann

Laura Fern Gann, 107, died at 4:40 p.m., Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor where she had resided in Assisted Living the past seven years and skilled nursing the past six weeks.

Laura was born September 3, 1911, at Floral, Kansas to Lloyd E. and Clara Reeves Lewis. She moved to Arkansas City in 1918 where she attended school and graduated in 1929 from Arkansas City High School.

Laura and Lawrence W. Gann were married May 31, 1930 at the Central Christian Church parsonage in Arkansas City by C. W. Walker. Following marriage, the couple lived in Arkansas City until 1998 when due to Mr. Gann's illness, they moved to Parsons, Kansas to be near their daughter, Joyce Rhodes, and her husband, Bob. They shared 74 years of marriage lacking only 15 days to make it 75 years. Family and friends celebrated their 50 ^th wedding anniversary at the First Church of God in Ark City in 1980 and their 65 ^th wedding anniversary was celebrated with family in Atlanta, Georgia in 1995.

Laura was a homemaker for many years. She served as PTO president for the Washington Elementary School several times. She was a talented seamstress and a fantastic cook. She was the stability of the First Church of God at 1301 S. A Street in Arkansas City. She served as the church treasurer for years as well as taught Sunday school classes, Vacation Bible School, the ladies quilting group, and served as pianist for many years until its closing. The Trinity Baptist Church bought the building and they continued to worship there until moving to Parsons. In 1957, she became a secretary for the Samford-Stover Insurance Agency until 1972 when she retired. After retiring, Laura and Lawrence spent a good part of their time visiting their children who had all moved away from Ark City. While living in Parsons, they attended the First Church of the Nazarene along with Joyce and Bob.

Laura is survived by one son, Kenneth W. Gann and wife, Shirley (Grose) Gann of Suwanee, Georgia; twin daughters, Janyce (Gann) Chaney and husband Joe Chaney of Panama City Beach, Florida, and Joyce (Gann) Rhodes and husband Bob Rhodes of Parsons, Kansas; and son-in-law, Forrest "Bud" Stacy of Hoschton, Georgia. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Mark Gann and wife Nancy; Michael Gann and wife, Karen; Angela (Gann) Hardee and husband Scott; Gregg Stacy and wife Divida; Christopher Stacy and wife Lorri; Clay Chaney, JoAnn (Chaney) Johnson and husband Dana;, Traci Rhodes, and Matthew Rhodes and wife Sheila; 15 great-grandchildren, Makenna and Taylor Gann; Michael Joe, Mindy and Mitchell Gann; Ryan, Makayla and Austin Stacy; Chris "Bubba" Stacy, Candice Johnson, Chelsea Gauthier, Kate and Kendell Johnson; and Grant and Wyatt Rhodes; nine great-great-grandchildren, Tanner and Karli Stacy; Kalin and Jamison Stacy; Devon and Titus Johnson; Isabella Gann, Sophia Gauthier, and a baby soon to be born to Michael Joe and Emily Gann; two nieces, Donna "Tootie" (Wells) Panky and Barbara McKelvey; and a nephew, Richard McKelvey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Clara Lewis; her husband, Lawrence Gann, on May 16, 2004; a daughter, Carolyn Sue (Gann) Stacy, on November 7, 2018; a baby brother, Raymond Lewis; a brother, Lawrence "Bob" Lewis; and one sister, Esther (Lewis) McKelvey.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kansas. Friends may call from 1-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to Kindred Hospice or Parsons Presbyterian Manor. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.