Visitation will be at 10:00 am, Thursday, March 30 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. Graveside service to follow at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N Chestnut St, Olathe, KS 66061.
Eloise was born July 15, 1920 in Veedersburg, Indiana to Gordon and Beatrice Minnick. Eloise was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Blaine Towell, her parents and her son-in-law, Robert Ratzlaff.
She is survived by her daughter Jeffriann Ratzlaff of Pittsburg, Kansas; her son Michael (Jan) Towell of Leawood, Kansas; and her sister Janet (Richard) Ellis of Loon Lake, New York. Also, five grandchildren: Brian (Kaci) Ratzlaff of Spring Hill, Kansas; Julie Sinclair of Springfield, Missouri; Christopher (Cathy) Ratzlaff of Pittsburg, Kansas; Andrew (Lindsay) Towell of Spring Hill, Kansas; and Christopher Towell of Scottsdale, Arizona. She has six great grandchildren: Cameron, Caleigh and Cooper Ratzlaff of Pittsburg, Kansas; Cade Sinclair of Springfield, Missouri; and Hayden and Ava Towell of Spring Hill, Kansas.
Eloise graduated from High School in Veedersburg, Indiana in 1938. Upon graduation she enrolled in beauty school and worked as a hairdresser until she married Blaine. They moved to Danville, Illinois and later to Prairie Village, Kansas when Blaine took a new job with Gay Gibson. Later, they built a beautiful home on the golf course at Blue Hills where she lived for 46 years. She and Blaine were members at Blue Hills Country Club for over 50 years. Some of her happiest times were playing couples golf on Sunday afternoon with their friends and enjoying dinner afterwards. For many years she and Blaine went to Phoenix for the winter where they met up with friends to play golf. After Blaine passed, she still continued playing in the Ladies Wednesday league until she was in her 90's.
While her children were in school, she served as a room parent, volunteered with Cub Scouts and was even President of the Moms club at Mike's college fraternity. When her grandchildren came along, she was proud of all their accomplishments and enjoyed attending many of their activities from grade school plays, soccer and baseball games, band concerts, Eagle Scout awards, high school and college graduations. Even one grandson's wedding.
Eloise loved playing bridge with friends; attending performances at the Symphony, seeing the Nutcracker during the holidays, having season tickets to the Chestnut, going to the Dinner Theatre and Starlight. She was a member of Church of the Resurrection.
She was a loving mother and grandmother, a kind neighbor and a loyal and trusted friend who will be dearly missed.
