Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with the funeral service immediately following at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Entombment will take place at Faith Mausoleum in Mt. Moriah Cemetery South.
Ethel was born on January 3, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri, to James and Maggie Harden. She graduated from Northeast High School in 1952, where she served on the Student Council, Courier Staff, Society Cabinet, and A Cappella Choir. It was there that she met her beloved husband, Roger Welch. They married on June 6, 1953, and enjoyed 62 happy years together before Roger’s passing in 2016.
Ethel began her career as a steno clerk at Montgomery Ward in 1951 and, over the years, worked her way up to executive secretary at Mass Mutual Insurance; King, Fellenstein and Degen; and First Community Bank, where she retired after 25 years. She also served as secretary of the Kansas City Chapter of the National Secretaries Association. Throughout those years, she was warmly involved in her daughter’s dance recitals, Brownies and Girl Scouts, PTO activities, and was often the prankster at slumber parties.
Ethel enjoyed sewing, gardening, tennis, reading, and traveling. She especially cherished the “great times with my husband, children, and grandchildren. I loved my family dearly, and I am glad I had so many years enjoying them.”
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and her four brothers, Chester Harden (Wilma), Richard Harden (Doris), Edward Harden (Laura), and William Harden (Jean).
She is survived by her daughters, Debbie Newhouse (Lou) and Lisa Kremer (Ken); her grandchildren, Blayne Gilbert (Rebecca), Justin Gilbert (Jessica), Eric Pierson (Rebekah), Nick Pierson (Olivia), Allison Kuhl (Luke), and Cody Kremer (Georgia); and her great-grandchildren, Cohen and Vayda Gilbert; Emery, Roman, Berkley, and Bodhi Pierson; Nolan and Evalyn Pierson; Calvin, Clark, and Crosby Kuhl; and Evelyn, June, and Christian Kremer. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Kenny Welch, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ethel and Roger moved to Aberdeen Village in 2012. The family would like to thank the many staff members who shared in Ethel’s journey over the past 14 years, as well as her Ascend hospice care team.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Aberdeen Village, or a charity of your choice.
