Ann Greer

Ann A. Greer, age 88, of Elk City, Ks, having spent the past few years living with her daughter Vicky in Crowley, TX, passed away peacefully at her daughters home on March 18, 2010. Cremation has taken place. Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the Potts Chapel in Independence, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Elk City, Kansas. Ann was born in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada to Joseph and Estell Wodyga, the second youngest of twelve children, on 13 June, 1921. At the age of eleven her mother passed away, and Ann moved to live with her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Bleisner in Kellogg, ID. Her father passed away when she was 14. While growing up in Kellogg, Idaho she became a citizen of the United States and met Lester Greer, whom she later married. Ann was the first in her family to have the opportunity to complete High School she also earned a Teaching Certificate from the University of Idaho, at Moscow, Idaho. Both Ann and Lester worked for A.V. and Anne Greer of Kellogg, IdahoLester as a cook, and Ann as a waitress. This was where they first met. Lester proposed to Ann on Thanksgiving Day in 1941 he was subsequently drafted into the U.S. Army of 1 December, 1941, and they married on 12 June 1942 in Olympia, Washington, near where Lester was stationed. Lester left for the European Theater during the summer of 1943 Ann would not see him again for nearly 2 years, nearly 5 months of which he was declared Missing In Action. After his return and discharge from the service, Ann and Lester would own and operate restaurants in Tekoa, Washington and Wallace, Idaho, before returning to Elk City, Kansas in 1951 and establishing their family farm. Lester preceded in death on 15th of January 1987. Ann worked at several jobs during their time operating the farm, but is best remembered for her many years in the Register of Deeds Office for Montgomery County. Ann touched the hearts of many through the years, from her extended family in Idaho, Washington, and British Columbia, to her many dear friends in Southeast Kansas. Her church bulletin described her as, Her time is spent helping others. Anything that needs to be done in her church or community, Ann will volunteer. She is active in Senior Citizens and other civic organizations. Ann is always a helping hand. Ann loved her country, her church, her friends and most of all her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother. Always proud of her family, she kept all informed of their exploits and was the fabric that held them all together even when geographically separated. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her as she goes to be with her lord and savior and join the rest of her family on the high ground. She leaves behind two daughters, Judy Rogers and Jim Smith of Wichita, Kansas, and Vicky and Tom Rollins of Crowley, Texas, and two sons Jim and Brenda Greer, rural Elk City, Kansas and Bill and Karen Greer of Lansing, Kansas as well as 13 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren. One granddaughter preceded her in death.