August 24, 1928-December 23, 2019
Melva Irene McElfish, 91 of Plainville, passed away on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville.
She was born on Aug. 24, 1928 to Henry and Maize (Banks) Kerns in Greenwood County, Kansas. Melva grew up around Greenwood and attended school up through 10th grade.
She married Lonnie Hammonds Jr. in 1945 in Pratt and to this union, Judy, Cindy, Renee and Kim were born. They later divorced and she married Richard Swim who later passed away in 1971. She then married Ernest McElfish on April 4, 1982.
Through her professional life she was a bookkeeper for a dentist office in Hoxie and later worked in sales at Dalhart, Texas. She enjoyed sewing and was known for her talents as a seamstress. Melva loved to dance and sing; she had a beautiful voice.
Melva had a deep love for the Lord and taught the word of God for many years at Sunday school at the Baptist Church. Melva’s beauty and warmth radiated so brightly from her heart to everyone she met. She will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her class and fashion, and unwavering faith in the Lord. Her beautiful spirit will endure forever.
We mourn the years that she will not have and we celebrate the time that was hers and the life that she lived.
She is survived by her husband, Ernest McElfish of Plainville; daughters Judy (Darrell) Ross of Liberty, Mo., Renee Snyder of Kansas City, Kim (Shane) Mai of Plainville; step-son, Mark McElfish of Kansas City; brothers, David (Susan) Kerns of Pratt and Steve (Vicki) Kerns of Maize; 11 grandchildren, Marty, Amy, Angie, Missy, Chad, Cortney, Ashley, Loni, Stevie, Cali, and Devin; 16 great-grandchildren, Colby, Blake, Danielle, Ellie, Derrick, Victoria, Julia, Max, Georgia, Jacob, Owen, Emma, Spencer, Darla, Joelle, and David; and great-great grand-daughter Tycie.
Melva is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Maize Kerns; second husband, Richard Swim; daughter, Cindy Thompson; step-daughter, Cheryl Kohl; sister, Carol Ann Corley; brothers, Melvin (her twin, Bud, Peewee, Richard, and Butch Kerns; and grandson, Brad Ross.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec, 27, 2019 at the funeral home in Plainville. There will be no visitation. Burial will follow in the Plainville Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Melva McElfish Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 S.W. Second St., Plainville, KS 67663.