Sep 01, 2022

Ellen May Stanley

Posted Sep 01, 2022 1:02 PM

Ellen May Stanley, 101, died on Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Lane County Hospital in Dighton. She was born on February 3, 1921, in Lane County the daughter of Delmar & Lena (Bobb) Durr. She married Max N. Stanley on November 4, 1939, at Dighton. He died on August 24, 2010,  after 69 years of marriage.

Ellen May was raised with the other “Durr Girls” on the family farm near Alamota and later raised her family in the same home. She graduated from Lane County High School and after raising her 6 children went back to school and earned her degrees from Garden City Community College and Fort Hays State University. She authored a number of books about Lane County history and wrote the 100 year news for the Dighton Herald for many years.

She was a very active of the United Methodist Church and also belonged to the Lane County Historical Society. She was involved with the Kansas Democratic Party and worked tirelessly as a member of Kansans Against the Vietnam War. She served as the 1990 Kansas State Historical Society President. Her special interest was following her children’s education and sports activities and in later years following the Kansas City Royals.

She is survived by 3 Daughters- Ann Epps of Denver, Colorado, Janet Horsky of Lansing and Gail & Merv Peck of Freemont, Nebraska, Son- Neal & Deanne Stanley of Dighton, Sister- Lee Speer of Wichita, 7 Grandsons and 14 Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, Son- Ken Stanley, Daughter- Mary Ellen Kettlewell, Son-In-Laws- Roger Horsky and John Epps, Sisters- Lorene Stormont, Ila June Muchow, Geneva Hineman, Jeanette Shull and Mary Alice Bosley, Brother- Marvin Durr and Grandson- Skye Stanley.

Funeral Service will be at 10:30 AM Tuesday at United Methodist Church in Dighton with Rev A.G. Turner officiating. Burial will be in Dighton Memorial Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to United Methodist Church or Lane County Historical Society in care of Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com