Ona L. Knight-Harris

Ona L. Knight-Harris, 93, of Wellsville, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, September 27, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, September 30, 2016, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Mrs. Harris will lie in state from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, September 29, 2016, to the service hour at the mortuary. Interment Wellsville Cemetery, Wellsville, Kansas. Ona was born Monday, June 4, 1923, in Westphalia, Kansas, the daughter of Frank J. and Lillian Frances (Adamek) Barta. At the age of twenty years, Ona moved to Kansas City, Missouri for two years, and then Kansas City, Kansas, before moving to Lenexa in 1953. She moved to Wellsville on February 1, 1960. Ona attended country schools in Coffey County, Kansas for eight years and graduated from Burlington High School in Burlington, Kansas, with the class of 1944. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Ottawa and the Lawrence O.U.R.S. Dance Club (“O.U.R.S. - Oldsters United for Responsible Services) Ona was united in marriage with Elton R. Knight June 4, 1946, in Columbus, Kansas. He preceded her in death on February 10, 1978. Ona married Donald E. Don Harris November 20, 1989, in Hiawatha, Kansas. He preceded her in death on September 25, 2013. She was also preceded in death by her son, Frederick Knight; parents, Frank and Lillian Barta; sister, Addeene Dragg; and granddaughter, Tawnya Knight. Survivors include her two sons, Gary Knight of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, and Frank Knight and wife Judy of Lenexa; stepson, Larry Jones of Wellsville; two stepdaughters, Peggy Jones and husband Donald of Olathe, and Leesa Van Cleave and husband Kurt of Wellsville; two grandsons, Christopher Knight of Camp Verde, Arizona, and Wayne Knight of Lawrence; two granddaughters, Brande Studer and husband Carl of Cottonwood Falls, and Amber Kasper of Edgerton; and fourteen great grandchildren. She worked for the Kansas City News in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1972 until 1976 and as an assembler for King Radio in Ottawa, Kansas, from 1979 until retiring, June 3, 1988. Ona dearly loved her family and was a devoted homemaker until 1972 while raising her family. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, making handmade quilts, ballroom round dancing, and was known for her penmanship. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Heart Association or Olathe Hospice House c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post condolences and memories on Ona’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com