MARY E. HOUK CHALKER

Mary E. Houk Chalker, age 74, died June 11, 2007, in Overland Park, Kansas.

She was born June 16, 1932, in Iola, the daughter of Earl F. Houk and Opal G. Sullivan Houk.

Mary grew up in the Moran area, attending Allen County country schools before graduating from Moran Rural High School in 1950. She then graduated from Parsons Junior College. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from Newman University, in Wichita. She continued her education by taking courses through Pittsburg State University.

She married Joe Chalker on July 4, 1952, at the Moran Christian Church.

Following college she lived and worked in the Wichita Area until moving to La Cygne in 1973. In 1976 she moved to Moran, where she taught until retiring in 1993. She was a member of the Moran Christian Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was a member of the AAUW while she lived in La Cygne, and she enjoyed reading, but her greatest joy was her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Luella Cochran.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Chalker, Moran; son Steve Chalker and wife Donna of Dallas, Texas; daughters Cynthia Jo Chalker of Wichita, Shirley Wells and husband Michael of Rose Hill, Barbara Chalker of Iola, and Linda Chalker of Ozawkie; sisters Marilyn May and husband Bill of Cleveland, Okla., Nancy Chandler and husband Wayne of Moran, and Ruth Spangler and husband David of Moran; brother-in-law Gene Cochran of Moran; seven grandchildren and on great-grandchild.

Funeral services for Mary E. Houk Chalker will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 344 N. Cedar St. in Moran. Burial will follow in the Moran Cemetery. The Revs. Bill LaPorte and Lloyd Houk will officiate.

She will lie in state after 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until service time on Friday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Moran Christian Church.