Etna Elizabeth Yerkes

Etna Elizabeth Yerkes was born January 3, 1907, at Lane, Kansas. She was the daughter of Abraham and Bertha (Hodge) Lynn. Etna was a lifelong resident of Franklin and Miami Counties, living in the Lane community, and moving into Ottawa in 1971, where she made her home, until her death Saturday, March 6, 2004, at the age of ninety-seven years. Etna attended Green Valley School, graduated from Lane High School with the class of 1926, and attended Pittsburg and Ottawa Universities. She was a school teacher for forty-three years. She taught in Miami and Franklin County Rural Schools, Lane, Princeton and Central Heights Elementary Schools, retiring in 1969. Etna had been a member of Green Valley Baptist Church since early childhood. She was an honorary life member of the National and State Retired Teacher's Association; life member of Sons and Daughters of the Soddy's, Inc.; and, member of Ottawa Circle 33 of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for descendants of Civil War veterans. Etna loved and enjoyed people. Every child she taught during her long teaching career was special to her. In her spare time, she enjoyed handwork, needlework and leatherwork. She also loved playing the guitar and would play at dances with her brothers as an extra guitar. On November 5, 1937, Etna was united in marriage with James Delbert Yerkes at Marshall, Missouri. He preceded her in death on June 14, 1981. She is also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Ruby Huck, Cecil Baker; two brothers, Orville Lynn, Kenneth Lynn; two nieces, Shirley Stottlemier, Dora Roles; and nephew, Richard Baker. Mrs. Yerkes is survived by three nieces, Ferne Culver of Overland Park, Kansas, Bertha Allenson of Blackstone, Virginia, Sharon Harrison of Danville, Virginia; sixteen great nieces and nephews; twelve great great nieces and nephews; and, many friends and neighbors, whom she appreciated very much. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held 2:00pm, Thursday, March 11, 2004 @ Dengel & Son Mortuary. OFFICIATING CLERGY: Pastor Scott Dickinson. IN STATE: Mrs. Yerkes will lie in state after 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at Dengel & Son Mortuary until service hour, where the family will meet with friends 1 to 2:00 p.m. Thursday, prior to service. CEMETERY: Green Valley Cemetery, northeast of Lane, Kansas. MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Alzheimer`s Association, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary 235 S. Hickory in Ottawa, Ks 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.