Margaret “Edna” White Blauer Gartrell

Margaret “Edna” White Blauer Gartrell passed away at the age of 105 on January 29, 2022 in Stockton, Kansas.

She was born in Jewel County, Kansas on August 8, 1916 to Charles Ernest White and Martha Emmer (Crumley) White. Edna grew up with siblings: Mary Lucille, Dorothy Jean, Charles Robert, and Wayne Crumley.

Edna attended rural schools and grew up in Smith and Jewel counties. Her first six years of school she and her sister walked one mile to the country school. She then attended and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1934.

Some of her favorite childhood memories were when she and her family would travel to Red Cloud, Nebraska on Saturday nights to visit with friends, get groceries, and ice cream, gum, or a sack of candy for five cents.

She was united in marriage to Floyd Blauer on May 28, 1939. Floyd had a daughter, Jeanice, who Edna adopted. The couple was blessed with the birth of a son, Jack. After Floyd’s death in 1977, Edna married Duane Gartrell on January 14, 1984. She enjoyed his children and they remained a part of her life after Duane’s passing in 1987.

Edna taught three years at country schools and two years at Lebanon, Kansas elementary school. She worked 22 years at Rooks County ASCS in Stockton. She enjoyed her jobs and working with youth and rural residents. Her Sundays involved teaching Sunday School at the Stockton United Methodist Church, where she was a long-time faithful member.

Edna is survived by her step-daughter, Jeanice (Maynard) Cress of Humboldt; daughter-in-law, Judy Blauer of Humboldt; six step-grandchildren and many great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren.

She joins in her heavenly home, her parents, Floyd and Martha White; first husband, Floyd Blauer; second husband, Duane Gartrell; son, Jack Blauer; and siblings, Mary Lucille White Stackhouse, Dorothy Jean White Jamison, Charles Robert White, and Wayne Crumley White.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Stockton. A Visitation will be on Monday at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Stockton United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North First, Stockton, KS 67669.