Elsie Irene Edwards Tallent

Elsie Irene Edwards was born at home in Jewell County Kansas on January 3, 1924. She passed away peacefully in Overland Park, Kansas on October 24, 2017 at the age of 93 years 10 months and 21 days.

Elsie was the oldest of 12 children born to Robert Clinton and Velma Leone McKinney Edwards and was fiercely proud of her family heritage.

She earned a teaching certificate and taught in a one-room school in Nuckolls County Nebraska for a year. She had many stories to tell of the escapades of her younger brothers while she was teaching. She met Dale Omer Tallent while shopping for groceries with her mother in Hardy. It took a few months for this charming young man to work up the courage to ask her out, they were married June 8, 1947 at Hardy Community Church, a marriage that lasted for 67 years. Dale preceded her in death August 10, 2014.

This union resulted in 7 children: Roxie (Gordon) Graham of rural Powhattan KS, Jean (Bob) Baker of Vacaville CA, David Tallent of Powhattan KS, Cindy (David) Barnes of rural Powhattan KS, Sandy Tallent, Teri (Ed) Burns of Laurel MD, Mark (Nita) Tallent of Overland Park KS; 20 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

Mom took great pleasure in sewing for her family, everything from costumes for family and friends to wedding gowns, twirler outfits, and recital dresses. She was always involved and very active in her churches, acting as Superintendent of Sunday Schools, singing in the choir, directing children’s choirs, leading youth groups, organizing Vacation Bible Schools, leading adult Bible Study, serving in any capacity needed. As a leader of the Hiawatha 1st UMC she helped establish the Latchkey program.

She was extremely interested in her community and always strove to give back in volunteer work. She saw great need in Colorado and Wyoming with the migrant workers. She conceptualized and organized a summer school for the children of these families so they had a safe place to spend their days, finding volunteers to teach, cook, and care for them while their parents worked in the neighboring fields. In 1987 she was awarded Community Woman of the Year by the Hiawatha Business and Professional Women.

Mom was always available to help Dad in the stores he managed during busy seasons. She felt one of her biggest accomplishments began at age 55 when she became a bookkeeper at KNZA. She turned that into a career selling advertising which she discovered she was gifted at. She spent many months as the Top Sales Person of the Month, retiring at the age of 65.

Preceding her in death were her husband, her parents, brothers Bob, George, Russ, Don (Squirt), and Bruce, daughter Sandra Rae (Sandy), grand-daughters Erika (Ricke,) Zancanella Shiflar, and Ashley Campbell Tallent, and grandson Paul Shiflar.

Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha after 10 a.m. Friday, where the family will meet from 6 until 8 that evening.

A Celebration of Elsie’s life is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, October 28, at the Union Church, Hardy, Nebraska, with Pastor Jacob Cloud, of First Methodist Church of Hiawatha, officiating. Interment will follow at the Hardy Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to the Hiawatha Latchkey Program or NEK Hospice, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., 66434.

www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com