Marie Compton

Obituaries

April 23, 2015 - 12:00 AM

Marie Elizabeth (Neuenswander) Compton passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at the age of 96. She was born in Alba, Mo., to the Rev. Irvin Leo and Bethany Emma (Swartz) Neuenswander on April 19, 1919. She was the oldest of 12 children. Her father was a Methodist preacher, so for many years their family moved every three years to many small towns in Missouri, Oklahoma, but mainly Kansas. Elizabeth went to school in Willis and Allen, Kansas. She played the cello and the trombone. Elizabeth graduated as valedictorian from Welda High School in 1937, and from Iola Junior College in 1939. She taught school for one year at Liztown, near Colony.
On Aug. 4, 1940, she married Finley Edward Compton of Neosho Falls. They lived in or near Neosho Falls all of their married life, while raising a large family. She was an avid gardener and loved to cook, sew, crochet and quilt. In 2002, Elizabeth moved to Iola. The last few years of her life, she enjoyed being a resident of Windsor Place at Iola.
Elizabeth is survived by sons, Finley Lee Compton, Augusta, Charles Edward (Dotty) Compton, Perry, Iowa, Joseph Wayne Compton, Iola, Donald Paul (Mary) Compton, Dallas, Texas, Glen Eugene (Vicki) Compton, Mount Jewett, Pa., and David Allen (Lisa) Compton, Grapevine, Texas; daughters, Nancy Ann Stever, Augusta, Ga., Mary Helen Shields, Sarasota, Fla., Wilma Jean (Jim) Rose, Wichita, Nellie May (Edwin) Myers, Whitewater, Ella Louise Compton, Garland, Texas, Marjorie Kay (Nicolah) Khachutain, Wichita, and Betty Lucille (Glen) Cunningham, Iola; 56 grandchildren, more than 100 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Other survivors include her brothers, Dr. William (Anita) Neuenswander, Baldwin City, and Dr. Dan (Connie) Neuenswander, Topeka; and sisters Emily Grunday, Edwardsville, Evelyn (Ralph) Bunnel, Colony, Betty Bidinger, Lawrence, and Ruth (Tom) Farrell, Dallas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Finley Compton; two sons, John Irvin and William Irl Compton, one daughter, Ruth Marie Coltrane, Garnett; one grandson, Joshua Irvin Coltrane, Garnett; sisters, Jean Bubna, Helen Neuenswander and Nancy Ann Neuenswander; and two brothers, Paul Neuenswander and John Neuenswander.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church, Iola. Burial will follow at Geneva Cemetery northwest of Iola. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.
Memorial gifts to First Christian Church or Dallas Theological Seminary may be left with the funeral home. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.

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