Roma Lee (Kennedy) Irby, 93, died April 17, 2021, at the Graham County
Hospital in Hill City, Kansas. She was born June 21, 1927, to Carroll
Earl and Blanche Olive (Lee) Kennedy in Niles, Kansas. Roma Lee had one
brother, Carroll (Ken) Kennedy and four sisters: Ilene Wallace, Ruth
Norsworthy, Ora Mae Irby, and Doris Woods.
The family moved several times during Roma Lee’s childhood due to
the Depression Era. One of her favorite memories was while they lived
in Colby. At that time, she was in the fifth grade and was chosen to be
“Student of the Month”. In recognition and honor of this award, she
was invited to attend the Lyon’s Club dinner. This was a very special
experience and memory that lasted the rest of her life.
Roma Lee graduated from Manhattan High School in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1945. She was accepted to and attended the Kansas University of
Nursing School in Kansas City, Kansas, where she graduated with her
Diploma Nursing Degree in 1948. Here she made several friends that she
remained close the rest of her life.
Upon graduating from nursing school, she attempted to enlist in the
United States Army as an Army Nurse. However, due to health issues she
could not join. Feeling disappointed and not sure what she wanted to
do, she moved to the Chicago area where she lived with her brother, Ken
and sister-in-law Lois and sister, Ilene, and brother-in-law Ben where
she helped with their children and worked at a nearby hospital. Later
she returned to the Topeka area where she learned of a new hospital
opening in Wakeeney. Roma Lee was one of the first nurses that helped
open this hospital.
On her weekends off from the hospital, a friend from nursing school,
Betty (Stephen) Wertz, would bring her to Bogue. Betty introduced her
to her soon-to-be husband, Donald Eugene Irby. The couple were married
July 6, 1952.
Don was enlisted in the United States Air Force. Shortly after they
were married, he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. Their first
daughter, Becky, was born while they lived there. Upon Don’s discharge
from the Air Force, they returned to Bogue. They had three more
daughters: Patty, Jackie, and Cindy and one son, Dan.
Roma Lee was a stay-at-home wife and mother until her youngest, Dan,
went to school. Seeking to get back to her nursing, Roma Lee took a
part time job at the Bogue Grade School as the school nurse. She later
became the school nurse for Unified School District #281.
On May 9, 1967 Roma Lee lost her beloved husband, Don, leaving her
to raise their five children alone. Through her faith in God and her
strong sense of duty, Roma Lee persevered. She worked not only as a
school nurse during the school year but in the summers, she worked at
the Plainville and the Graham County hospitals. One summer she was
hired as the Graham County Nurse. Roma Lee not only used her medical
knowledge in the work force, but for the community as well. She was
always available to those needing a blood pressure check, an allergy
shot, or just a listening ear. Each treatment was followed with a hug
and a fresh baked cookie. You could also find Roma Lee volunteering
wherever needed. She served as a Sunday School teacher and helping with
service project through UMW and TPM clubs. Roma Lee had a love for
reading that caused her to volunteer to serve on the Graham County
Library Board where she was instrumental getting the new Graham County
Library built and establishing a countywide bookmobile that brought
books to all the outlying communities for many years.
Roma Lee will forever be known as the town “coffee lady." The
coffee pot was always on and the door was always open. No matter the
time of day, you could find a table full of friends, relatives and
neighbors sitting together solving all world’s problems. Everyone was
welcome.
Roma Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents,
Carroll and Blanche; her daughter, Becky; her sisters: Doris and Ilene,
and her brother, Ken.
Left behind to celebrate her life are daughters: Patty and husband,
Larry Thurlow of Bogue, Jackie and husband, Jeff Johnston of Champlain,
Minnesota, and Cindy and husband Dean Savell of Midlothian, Texas; her
son Dan and wife, Jana of Bogue; her sisters: Ruth and husband, Ken
Norsworthy, of Raleigh, North Carolina and Ora Mae Irby of Logan;
grandchildren: Nolan and Amanda Rome, Nathan and Matt Rome, Jennifer
and Jesse Schmidtberger, Lance and Cindy Thurlow, Roger and Amy Thurlow,
Andrew and Sara Johnston, Joe and Lu Johnston, Tiffany and Billy
Clifton, Jessica Savell, Jake Savell, and Dylan and Brandie Irby; great
grandchildren: Lily Thurlow, Josie Schmidtberger, Chauncey Rome, Aimee
Johnston, Asher Thurlow, Daxtyn Irby, Sean Johnston, Julia
Schmidtberger, Evelyn Clifton, Owen Johnston, Cullen Johnston, Olivia
Clifton, Sebastian Rome and Berklie Irby, a multitude of nephews and
nieces and many, many friends.
Roma Lee always had a witty saying, poem or song that helped her
through the rough patches. When you were at your wits end, the best
advice she would pass along would be “ This too shall pass.” Advice we
will all treasure.
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