Cleda Townsley

Cleda Mae Townsley, formerly of Blue Mound, KS, passed away at Prescott Country View Nursing Home on October 16, 2005 at the age of 97. She was born near Blue Mound, KS on July 19, 1908 to John and Beulah Ingram Harris. She spent her entire life in the Blue Mound area. As a girl, she rode horseback to attend Prairie Valley School. In her young adult years, she worked in her uncle's hotel during the busy years of the railroad, which then passed through Blue Mound. On September 26, 1928 she was united in marriage to Melvin Olan Townsley in Fort Scott, KS. He passed away in 1990 after nearly 62 years of marriage. Cleda was a charter member of the Stitch and Chatter Club, \which was organized in December 1930. The women in this club met twice a month to quilt, embroider or do other handwork to help each other as well as provide support for community members and service organizations. This club remained active for nearly 75 years. Cleda was the last living charter member. She was also an active member of the Blue Mound United Methodist Church including helping to create a church cookbook and serving apples with caramel made from "scratch" at the church booth during the Mound City Craft Festival. Cleda was a devoted wife, always working alongside her husband on their farm south of Blue Mound. She was an experienced cook, feeding many harvest crews through the years and was well known for her beautifully decorated cakes for area weddings and special occasions. Her grandchildren recall enjoying her leftover sugar roses as special treats on their visits. During the Depression years and long after, she was known as the neighborhood barber, cutting hair for free. She was a special loving mother to her daughter, Juanita Murrow and husband, Dick of Gardner, KS; a special loving grandmother to her granddaughter, Robyn McGuire and husband, Mike of Gardner and to her grandson, Rodney Murrow and wife, Pat, of Olathe, KS and a special loving great grandmother to her great grandsons, Cameron and Cooper McGuire of Gardner and her great granddaughters, Anna and Sarah Murrow of Olathe. All of these family members survive her. In addition, she is survived by her brother, Warren Harris and wife, Mary of Blue Mound, KS; several loving nieces and nephews and a cousin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mel; her parents; a brother, Ray and an infant great grandson. Cleda will be truly missed by her family and friends. Her strength and outgoing ways created many memorial that will always be dear in the hearts of those who knew her. Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 20, 2005 at the United Methodist Church, Blue Mound, KS. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Contributions are suggested to the United Methodist Church , Blue Mound or Prescott Countryview Nursing Home Activity Fund. Interment will be in Sunny Slope Cemetery, Blue Mound, KS.