Mary Tefft

Mary Ellen Tefft, 62, of Neodesha, died Thursday at the Wilson Medical Center Reece Campus in Neodesha. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 Monday at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Kris Brinlee, pastor, and the Reverend Dave Cheshire of Christs Church of Neodesha, officiating. Interment will be the Altoona Cemetery under the direction of the Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. The family has suggested memorial remembrances to the 4-H Foundation and remembrances will be received at the Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel. Mary Ellen Tefft was born January 24, 1946 at Chanute, Kansas, the daughter of Benjamin Tefft and Hazel Michael Tefft. She graduated from Neodesha High School in 1964. She then attended Pittsburg State University where she graduated in 1968. She later received her Masters Degree. She taught at Heller Elementary School from 1968 until 2001 . She was a member of First United Methodist of Neodesha where she had served as President of United Methodist Women. She had served as President of the Business and Professional Womens Organization, she was a member N.E A., K.N.E.A., and served as president of the local N.E. A. and had also served as president of the Southeast Kansas N.E.A. Miss Tefft had been active in the 4-H Clubs in the area since joining as a child. She was a 35-year county and club 4-H project leader and had served on several state 4-H committees. In 1994 she was honored by Wilson County 4-H with the County 4-H Alumni Award. She is survived by her mother, Hazel Tefft of Neodesha; brother, Alvin Tefft and his wife Dorothy of Topeka, Kansas; two nephews; one great niece; and one great nephew.