Odiva Jean Little Ethridge
December 3, 1927 — December 12, 2014
Our precious mother, grandma, great grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend left her earthly home on December 12, 2014 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa.
Odiva Jean Little Elder Ethridge was born in Cameron, Texas on December 3, 1927 to Grady and Oma (Weems) Little. That remained her home until her marriage to Frank Elder of Salina, Kansas in 1945. He preceded her in death in 1976. To this union six children were born. For most of their married life they resided in rural Salina County, Kansas where they farmed. Jean as she was known, worked at Salina’s First United Methodist Church for 38 years as a church hostess. She was a dedicated 4-H club leader, a Sunday School Teacher, a charter member of Salina TOPS club, the Peacemakers SS Class, a lifetime member of the VFW, Federated Women, (OES) and United Methodist Women Altar Society.
She married Eugene Ethridge in 1980 in Salina, Kansas, who also preceded her death in 1994.
Jean loved all sports and was an avid KU, K-State and Dallas Cowboys fan. Jean loved music of all kinds from country to opera. She loved a good story and laughed with her whole being. She loved her family and gave them her all, often going without so they could have. She often worked day and night to keep food on the table and clothing. She made the best angel food cake in the world and was a genius at telling scary Halloween stories. She made homemade butter, clothes, ice-cream, and shared with anyone who was in need.
She welcomed everyone into her home, regardless of background, ethnicity or spiritual persuasion. You never knew who would be sleeping on a pallet in the front room in the morning, or how many new faces with whom you would share the holiday table with. She loved with passion and true commitment. She loved without regard to others worth and ability to love back.
She was a confidant and friend to an endless number of United Methodist Youth Fellowship kids at the church who ate her cooking and called her “friend."
In addition to the deaths of her two husbands, she lost two sons, Grady in 2008 and Lyle in 2010.
Survivors include her children: Faye (Elder) and her husband Marvin Clements of LaCygne, Kansas; Carol (Elder) and her husband Richard Doran, Jr. of Harlan, Iowa; Paula Lynn (Elder) and her husband Clayton Anderson of Birch Tree, Missouri; Bryan Elder and his wife Pam of Yukon, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law Linda Elder of LaCygne, Kansas; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; cousins; extended family and friends. She touched everyone whom she met, she continues to give to others in death. At a future date, a memorial service will be held in Harlan, Iowa where she resided for the last nine years of her life. Burial will be in Bennington, Kansas next to Frank.
Donations may be made to the Saline County Kansas 4-H Foundation, gifts to be used for scholarships to 4-H Camp in Rock Springs, Kansas.
Odiva Jean Little Elder Ethridge was born in Cameron, Texas on December 3, 1927 to Grady and Oma (Weems) Little. That remained her home until her marriage to Frank Elder of Salina, Kansas in 1945. He preceded her in death in 1976. To this union six children were born. For most of their married life they resided in rural Salina County, Kansas where they farmed. Jean as she was known, worked at Salina’s First United Methodist Church for 38 years as a church hostess. She was a dedicated 4-H club leader, a Sunday School Teacher, a charter member of Salina TOPS club, the Peacemakers SS Class, a lifetime member of the VFW, Federated Women, (OES) and United Methodist Women Altar Society.
She married Eugene Ethridge in 1980 in Salina, Kansas, who also preceded her death in 1994.
Jean loved all sports and was an avid KU, K-State and Dallas Cowboys fan. Jean loved music of all kinds from country to opera. She loved a good story and laughed with her whole being. She loved her family and gave them her all, often going without so they could have. She often worked day and night to keep food on the table and clothing. She made the best angel food cake in the world and was a genius at telling scary Halloween stories. She made homemade butter, clothes, ice-cream, and shared with anyone who was in need.
She welcomed everyone into her home, regardless of background, ethnicity or spiritual persuasion. You never knew who would be sleeping on a pallet in the front room in the morning, or how many new faces with whom you would share the holiday table with. She loved with passion and true commitment. She loved without regard to others worth and ability to love back.
She was a confidant and friend to an endless number of United Methodist Youth Fellowship kids at the church who ate her cooking and called her “friend."
In addition to the deaths of her two husbands, she lost two sons, Grady in 2008 and Lyle in 2010.
Survivors include her children: Faye (Elder) and her husband Marvin Clements of LaCygne, Kansas; Carol (Elder) and her husband Richard Doran, Jr. of Harlan, Iowa; Paula Lynn (Elder) and her husband Clayton Anderson of Birch Tree, Missouri; Bryan Elder and his wife Pam of Yukon, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law Linda Elder of LaCygne, Kansas; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; cousins; extended family and friends. She touched everyone whom she met, she continues to give to others in death. At a future date, a memorial service will be held in Harlan, Iowa where she resided for the last nine years of her life. Burial will be in Bennington, Kansas next to Frank.
Donations may be made to the Saline County Kansas 4-H Foundation, gifts to be used for scholarships to 4-H Camp in Rock Springs, Kansas.
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