Thayne J. Ellis

A visitation will be held starting at 9:00 AM Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 2300 E. Meadowlark Rd., Derby, Kansas, 67037. A Rosary will begin at 10:00 AM at the church, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow starting at 10:30 AM. The Mass will also be available via streaming at https://www.youtube.com/@saintmaryderby/streams online. Graveside services will be held following the funeral service at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Winfield.

Thayne was born in Imperial, Nebraska on January 26, 1921. She had two siblings, Betty and Billy Oldfield Jr. She graduated from East High School in Wichita, Kansas in 1940, and she married Alferd B. Ford, Sr. They had two children Alfred B. Ford, Jr., and Jackie Lynn Ford. Thayne was active with the PTA, the Cub Scouts, and the Girl Scouts. She was also the former President of Beta Sigma Phi, Delta Chapter, Business and Professional Women and Prairie Pilot. She was employed at Innes Company for many years and retired from Youthful Shoes in 1978. She married Benjamin Hayden Ellis in 1977. Thayne enjoyed knitting, cooking, and many years of good health. Thayne was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Jackie Oldfield, her husband, Hayden Ellis, and her children, Alferd Ford Jr. and Jackie Lynn (Ford) Hyre. She’s survived by her son in law, John P. Hyre, her granddaughter, Regi (Hyre) Wahl, her daughter in law, Judy Ford, her granddaughter, Gabrielle (Ford) Hillgrove and her husband Jason Hillgrove and their sons, Kaine and Drake. Thayne was loved by many and will be missed.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.HillsideFuneralHomeWest.com.