Cecelia Maureen (Percival) Orcutt, age 79, of Iola, Kansas, passed away Saturday morning, May 24, 2025, at Heartland Meadows in Iola. She was born Jan. 14, 1946, in the Salina area, daughter of the late Daryl and Kathleen (Anderson) Percival.
Cecelia moved with her family to Mission, Kansas, in 1958, and in 1964 graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. From there, she enrolled at Kansas State Teacher’s College at Emporia, graduating in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in art education.
Upon graduation, she first started teaching art in Kansas City. This path would be forever changed by another art teacher she met in college, Steven M. Orcutt. It was there they fell in love, and were married on June 15, 1969.
Because Steven was teaching art in Garnett, Cecelia decided to find a teaching job in a closer location. The Bowlus Fine Arts Center in Iola had recently opened, and the Iola School District hired her in 1969, to teach high school art. For 40 years, her Iola High School Art Department was held in highest regard for the excellence she drew from her students. She had a profound impact on innumerable students, with fond memories spreading nationwide.
Cecelia and Steven quickly settled into a lifetime of activities and memories in Iola. Cecelia was active in many civic clubs, and with Steven, was always on the move. They started an estate auction business, and while Steven was up on the trailer making the sale, she was in the background managing all the business details. When Steven was on the stage performing in musicals and plays, Cecelia was always sitting in the front row directing his actions with her eyes and facial expressions. Through 56 years of marriage, Cecelia was Steven’s anchor.
Although they loved their travels, mostly to Colorado and Death Valley, California, Cecelia showed her adventuresome side with a solo trip to China. The Cheung family of Iola invited her to join them on a visit to mainland China in 1989. From the broken-down Russian jet (with chickens on board) that got her farther inland, to the boat adventure up the Yangtze River, she proved to be a most intrepid explorer of world culture.
Cecelia is survived by her loving husband, Steven M. Orcutt, Iola; a sister, Julie Knedlik, Overland Park; and many nieces and nephews.
Cremation will take place and a memorial service in her honor will be held at a future date. Memorials are suggested to the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
Advertisement
Advertisement
