Marion Knapp Miller Hitt

Marion Knapp Miller Hitt, 84, Lakeview Village, Lenexa, Kansas died January 9, 2011 at the Overland Park Regional Hospital. A Celebration of Life Service will be Wednesday, January 26, 11:00 a.m., at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kansas 66224. Private burial will be celebrated at Mount Moriah Cemetery South, Kansas City, Missouri. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Church of the Resurrection or the Baker University Scholarship Fund, 618 Eighth Street, Baldwin City, Kansas 66006. Marion was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Edwin and Marion Miller, on November 4, 1926. Marion graduated from Baker University in 1947 with a B.A. Degree and an honorary membership in Alpha Delta Sigma scholastic fraternity and a life member of Alpha Chi Omega, social sorority; she attended Kansas University on a teaching fellowship, completing her M.A. in chemistry in 1949 and member of Iota Sigma Pi professional fraternity; several years later she returned to Kansas University receiving a B.S. in Education. At Baker University she had received a two year scholarship from the Methodist Board of Missions and a two year math award from Baker University. Marion married Richard B. Hitt on October 2, 1949 at the Broadway Methodist Church, who she had met on a blind-date in June 1946. Marion’s business career included as a research chemist at both Thompson Hayward Chemical Corp. and Chemagro, a division of Bayer Corp., teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District and after raising her children, returned to the Olin Water Service, a division of Olin Corp. as the lab supervisor, retiring from Olin in February 1986. Her activities included the American Chemical Society, President of the League of Scottish Rite Women, Worthy Matron of Meera Chapter #491 and a member of Adda Chapter #467, President of Shawnee Mission La Sertoma Club, member of Daughter’s of the Nile, El Matt Temple #120, Daughter’s of the American Revolution, Mission Hills Chapter serving as Regent, the National Society Magna Charta Dames, past first lady of the Kansas City Unit W.B.C.C.I. She was active in the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, Sunday School Department at Broadway Methodist Church, a Deacon at the Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church and recently activities at the Church of the Resurrection. Working with children at the Mahaffie Grade School in Olathe was very rewarding. Dick and Marion were avid travelers, all fifty states, twenty-six months of overseas travel including seven continents, 55 countries and four cruises. Dick and Marion have had a wonderful married life together, 61 years. Her smile and tenderness were an inspiration to all who knew her; she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Survivors include her husband, Dick of 61 years, a sister Betty Darr, a daughter Barbara Nichols and her husband Steve of Olathe, two granddaughters, two great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter. Preceded in death by her son Charles R. Hitt. Condolences may be made at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com. Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.