Juanita Mae Ayers, 86, died Aug. 23, 2007, at Dillon Living Center.

She was born May 15, 1921, in St. Joseph, Mo., the daughter of Edward and Gladys M. Swartz Willis. She graduated from Pratt High School. A longtime resident of Hutchinson, having lived at Marion County Lake and in Nickerson, she was a homemaker.

She belonged to United Methodist Church of Nickerson.

On Sept. 1, 1938, she married Verne Morrison Ayers in Great Bend. He died Feb. 16, 2006.

Survivors include: a son, Dennis, and wife, Linda, Cedar City, Utah; three daughters, Janice Piatt, and husband, Jack, Nickerson, Judith Bechtold and husband, Tom, Andover, and Jeanette Bauer and husband, Mike, Plano, Texas; a brother, Ed Willis, Buhler; a brother-in-law, Bill Haen, Hutchinson; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Charlene Haen and June Massey; a granddaughter, Gail Bugner, and a great-grandson, Russell Griffin.

Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Ron Lowry presiding. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, or the American Diabetes Association, both in care of the funeral home.

Personal condolences may be sent to www.elliottmortuary.com.