Anna May Olson, age 83, of Council Grove, passed away Saturday, Jan 10, 2015 at Diversicare of Council Grove, Kansas.
She was born May 5, 1931, at home in rural Dexter, KS, to C.C. “Jack” Kingsbury and May (Clark) Kingsbury. She attended a one-room grade school, riding horseback with her older brother, Clyde. She graduated from Dexter High School and then attended Wichita Business College.
Anna May enjoyed being a homemaker, sewing, crocheting, crafts, gardening, canning, helping with the Angus cattle, judging for 4H, raising dogs, and feeding birds, especially the hummingbirds. She was involved with the Wamego Board of Education, Wamego Rainbow Girls, Eastern Star, Morris County Extension, the Council Grove Senior Center and many other community activities.
With her son-in-law, Chris, in the Army, Anna May expanded her travel experiences outside of Kansas to Kentucky, Washington, Germany, and Australia. In addition, while her son, Chuck, Jennifer, and family lived in both North Carolina and Texas, Anna May enjoyed visiting them. Who knew she was such a world-class traveler?!
Above all, Anna May loved spending time with family and friends. She will be remembered as a wonderful grandmother who welcomed her grandchildren (and their friends) with open arms for an extended stay at 4 Mile Creek, showing them a real country experience. She enjoyed making home-made ice cream, providing jars for fire-flies, having puppies to love, horses to ride, bucket calves to help feed, rocks to skip in the creek, and making hand-cranked sugared popcorn…sometimes even for dinner! Anna May will also be remembered as a wonderful ranch wife, taking pride in cooking up hearty meals for fellow rancher who helped Andy work the cattle. These are memories we hold close.
She was preceded in death by her son Chuck Bowles, grandson, Jacob Bowles, husbands, Lester “Doc” Bowles and Andrew Olson, brothers Clyde and Keith, sisters-in-law Jessie and Hazel.
She is survived by her daughter Cathy Stewart and husband Chris of rural Dwight, KS; stepdaughters Elaine Deschner (Vinita, OK), Mandy Stewart and husband Mark & family (AR);brothers Clark Kingsbury and wife Marguerite (Winfield, KS) and Ken Kingsbury (Pawnee, OK); grandchildren: Amy Saragusa and husband Jason (Piper, KS), Lisa Stewart (Minneapolis, MN), Jim Stewart (Emporia, KS), Lucas Bowles (Keller, TX), Stephanie Bowles (Manhattan, KS), and Casey Bowles (Keller, TX), Ann Crispin and husband Rene (Vinita, OK) in addition to 4 great-grandchildren: Alexis and Trent Saragusa, Chrissie Bowles, Shay Hartness, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Council Grove Senior Center or the Community Christian Church of Council Grove, KS. They may be sent in care of Penwell-Gabel, Po Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.
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