Margaret Ellen Minerd

Margaret Ellen (Jarrell) Minerd went to be with her Lord and Savior February 14, 2011. She was born December 26, 1923, in Pittsburg, Kansas. She grew up in Ashland, Kansas and graduated from Ashland High School in 1942. After graduation, she moved to Pittsburg, Kansas where she lived with her sister Betty and worked in a defense plant in Parson, Kansas. She met Don Minerd there while he was in the army. They were married November 11, 1944. They moved to Ottawa, Kansas in 1948 where Don was beginning his career with the Kansas Highway Patrol. In 1953, the Patrol transferred them to Ness City, Kansas; where they lived until 1963. They were transferred to Wichita, and Don retired from the Patrol in 1971.

Margaret went to work for St. Francis Hospital in 1965 in Wichita where she worked as a certified nurses’ assistant in the newborn nursery. She retired in 1988. In 1998 she went to work for Valley Offset Printing in Valley Center, Kansas. She retired from there in 2001.

During her life, Margaret raised 5 children, played golf, and was in a bowling league. She was also a member of Delta Omicron ESA. She traveled with Don to the American Outboard Federation boat races. Boat racing was a family event for the Minerd’s. She was church treasurer for Calvary Temple in Park City for several years. She was also a volunteer for the Red Cross, delivering meals to the homebound through the Good Neighbor Nutrition Program in Valley Center. She also helped transport seniors to the Senior Center for the noon meal. This was an activity she truly enjoyed. She took great interest in her family, always attending sporting events and school activities for her children, grandchildren, and even the great-grandchildren. She took walks with them to the park in Park City, exploring and fishing. There were many days she would pick up any one of the kids after school or pre-school, and keep them until parents arrived.. She made going to grandma’s fun.

One of her favorite events in life was the family reunions with her siblings every two years. She had great joy being with them. She loved the beach, and if at all possible, she would spend a month on the outer banks of North Carolina each year with some family members walking the beach and collecting shells.

“Ms. Margaret”, as she was affectionately known, was a special treasure to her family and a loyal and loving friend to many. She blessed everyone who met her with her faith in Jesus Christ and her gentle, loving ways.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Jane Jarrell; her husband, Don Minerd; two sisters Lorene Kourafas and Dorothy Miles; and a brother, Earl Jarrell, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn Mertins, Valley Center, Kansas, sons; Michael Minerd and Patrick Minerdboth of Wichita, Kansas; Kelly Minerd of Benton, Kansas; and Kevin Minerd of Park City, Kansas. Also surviving are sisters, Betty Taylor of Reston, Virginia, Myrna Erway of San Clemente, California. Margaret had 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Union Rescue Mission 2800 N. Hillside Wichita, Kansas 67219 or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice 313 S. Market Wichita, Kansas 67202