Effie Mae (Deaver) Clevenger left this world on March 9, 2023, after living a long life of 102 years, eight months and 9 days.
She was born June 28, 1920, in Meade, KS to L.E. (Ed) Deaver and Anna (Blau) Deaver, the fourth of ten children. Most of her early years were spent in Russell Springs, KS where she graduated with nine other classmates in 1938. She was briefly married and daughter, Barbara Ann Crowl, was born. She later moved to WaKeeney, KS and worked as a waitress, where she met John Thomas Clevenger, who had returned home from serving in World War II. They were married June 29, 1946. Her sisters, Aleen and Bernice were also married the same week! To this union, three children were born. They lived in a number of towns until Darrell started school, settling in Larned, KS. They moved to WaKeeney in 1960 to be closer to John’s parents.
Effie was a homemaker and excellent seamstress. She sewed most of her children’s clothes and many doll clothes. She especially enjoyed sewing dresses for her granddaughters and Kally always wanted a pocket! She began working outside the home by cleaning motel rooms for the Funk family at the Silver Lodge Motel and Travelodge. She later worked in the dietary department at Trego Lemke Hospital for a number of years. When she retired, she and John took many trips to national parks in the west. She took up counted cross stitch and plastic canvas crafts to make gifts for those she loved. She rarely forgot to send birthday, anniversary and holiday cards to her many friends and relatives and they often received one of her delicious homemade angel food cakes.
She loved visiting and having coffee with her friends after John passed in 2000. Her favorite outing was when her niece, Karlynn Fabrizius and friend, Edna Mae Deines, took her to Effie’s Place, a café in Rush Center, for one of her birthdays. When she turned 90, Dr. Lang told her she was so healthy and would live to be a 100. She always did as he told her, and was determined to prove him right! She lived in her own home and drove her car until she was 95 and then moved to Trego Lemke Long Term Care, where she was lovingly cared for. She joined the Presbyterian Church during her residency.
Effie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four sisters, four brothers, eldest daughter and her husband, one daughter-in-law, and one grandchild. She is survived by one sister, Bernice Straub, two brother-in laws, son Darrell (Mary Jo), their two children and six grandchildren, son Tom and his three stepchildren, five step grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren, daughter Laurie and her daughter and one grandchild, as well as Barbara’s five children and their children, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney, KS, on Monday, March 13, 2023, at 10:30 am. Visitation will be prior to service from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation for Long Term Care.
Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th Street, WaKeeney, KS, 67672.
Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com