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