Jane E. McElroy, 88, died Sept. 28, 2009, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.

She was born June 24, 1921, in Powhattan, Ks., in Brown County, the daughter of Ezra and Minnie Vanover Bowron.

Her family farmed near Powhattan in Brown County in the 1920s, and 1930s, on 230 acres that was cleared with mules. Her father later was a judge in Horton, Ks. She graduated from Powhattan High School, attended Highland Junior College, and graduated from Pittsburg State University. She was a school teacher in a one-room school house in Brown County and later taught in Sawyer and Pratt, Ks.

She belonged to Trinity United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and the Women's circle of the church.

She married the Rev. Robert Yeagy. He died in 1949. On July 24, 1951, she married Warren H. McElroy, at the First United Methodist Church, Hutchinson. He survives.

Other survivors include: a son, Joe and wife Carol, Kyle, Texas; a granddaughter, Renee Innis and husband Robert, Santa Fe, N.M.; nieces, Marilyn Tollefson, Kansas City, and Ann Compton, Mission Hills; and nephews, David Tollefson, Kansas City, and Jim Tollefson, Honolulu.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Ruth Bowron and Thereasa Ann Tollefson.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Hutchinson at Wesley Towers. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Pleasant View Cemetery, Palco, with the Rev. Pat Ault-Duell presiding. Honorary casket bearers will be Ron Pfister and Michael Obranovich. Active bearers will be Tim Cline, Robert Innis, Jimmy McElroy, Matt Winger, and Delaine Winger. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

Memorials may be sent to the Brown County Historical Society, 611 Utah Street, Hiawatha, KS, or the Hospice House, in care of the funeral home.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.

Jane lived her life and truly believed in the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as they would do unto you." Her family would like to thank the following for their care and concern during her illness: Ron and Anita Pfister, Jimmy and Bonnie McElroy, the staffs at Hospice House and Thorne Care Center 200 wing, Dale and Leota Fessenden, Dr. Mark Fesen, and Dr. Tim Pauly, and their staff, and all the neighbors in Asbury Apartments.