Margaret “Edna” White Blauer Gartrell passed away at the age of 105 on
January 29, 2022, in Stockton, Kansas. She was born in Jewel County,
Kansas on August 8, 1916, to Charles Ernest White and Martha Emmer
(Crumley) White. Edna grew up with siblings: Mary Lucille, Dorothy Jean,
Charles Robert, and Wayne Crumley.
Edna attended rural schools and grew up in Smith and Jewel counties.
Her first six years of school she and her sister walked one mile to the
country school. She then attended and graduated from Lebanon High
School in 1934.
Some of her favorite childhood memories were when she and her family
would travel to Red Cloud, Nebraska on Saturday nights to visit with
friends, get groceries, and ice cream, gum, or a sack of candy for 5
cents.
She was united in marriage to Floyd Blauer on May 28, 1939. Floyd
had a daughter, Jeanice who Edna adopted. The couple was blessed with
the birth of a son, Jack. After Floyd’s death in 1977 Edna married Duane
Gartrell on January 14, 1984, she enjoyed his children and they
remained apart of her life after Duane’s passing in 1987.
Edna taught 3 years at country schools and 2 years at Lebanon,
Kansas elementary school. She worked 22 years at Rooks County ASCS in
Stockton. She enjoyed her jobs and working with youth and rural
residents. Her Sunday’s involved teaching Sunday school at the Stockton
United Methodist Church, where she was a long time faithful member.
Edna is survived by her step-daughter, Jeanice (Maynard) Cress of
Humboldt, KS; daughter-in-law Judy Blauer of Humboldt, KS; six
step-grandchildren and many great grandchildren and great-great-
grandchildren.
She joins in her heavenly home, her parents, Floyd and Martha White;
first husband, Floyd Blauer; second husband, Duane Gartrell; son, Jack
Blauer; and siblings, Mary Lucille White Stackhouse, Dorothy Jean White
Jamison, Charles Robert White, and Wayne Crumley White.
A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 10:30
AM at the United Methodist Church in Stockton. A Visitation will be on
Monday at the funeral home from 2 PM until 8 PM with a Family Receiving
Friends from 5PM until 6PM.
Memorials are suggested to the Stockton United Methodist Church and
may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North First,
Stockton, KS 67669.