VIOLA HARTS

Viola Harts, age 91, a resident of Presbyterian Village, Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, March 28, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center.

She was born Dec. 31, 1919, in Ellsworth County, Kan., the daughter of Ralph William Doubrava and Antonia Neuschafer Doubrava.

Viola worked and raised her family on a farm-livestock operation near Hepler.

She was a proud member of the Sunrise Social Club and very active in the Order of the Eastern Star.

During this homemaker period, she also found time to be a 4-H leader, a show steer trainer, a play director, chauffeur and chef, all while claiming to have attended more than 5,000 ballgames and various school functions.

After moving to Fort Scott, she was employed by the Western Insurance Company for 14 years, concurrently representing Avon Products in her community. Her astuteness as a representative is evident by the number of empty Avon order boxes still stored in her garage.

Her competitive spirit was evident as a passionate bowler, winning several state tournaments. Her family has long considered her a "gamer"; be it cards, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit or dominoes. Her true legacy in this area is the generally accepted fact that she was a Grand Master at Scrabble. All who have participated in these activities with her suffered substantial loss.

She attended the First Christian Church.

Survivors include two sons, Dwayne Harts, El Cajon, Calif.; and Larry Harts, Haviland, Kan.

Also surviving are eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Daryl Harts; three brothers, Rudy, Milas and Ben Doubrava, as well as her parents.

Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 31, in the First Christian Church.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Mercy Hospital Foundation and may be sent to the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.