Celesta Stong

Celesta Mae Stong, 97, of Coffeyville, Kansas formerly of Cherryvale passed away Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Windsor Place in Coffeyville. Celebration of Life Services will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at the First Baptist Church of Cherryvale with Reverend Jeff McCullough, officiating. Friends may register from 12 noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday with family receiving friends from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Potts Chapel of Cherryvale and from 11:00 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church when the casket will be closed and remain closed. Memorial remembrances are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and they may be left at Potts Chapel of Cherryvale. Celesta Mae Stong was born January 1, 1915 in Chautauqua County, Kansas the daughter of Frank Tharp and Viney Fonburg Tharp. She grew up in Elk City, Kansas and graduated from high school there. On February 23, 1935 at Elk City, Kansas she was united in marriage to Everett Stong and he preceded her in death May 6, 1991. She was member of the First Baptist Church of Cherryvale and EVA Chapter No. 18 Order of the Eastern Star OES. Celesta worked for Lees manufacturing in Cherryvale and the Cherryvale nursing home as a certified Nurse Assistant. Along with her husband she also worked at ZipTrip in Cherryvale. And for many years until the mid 1970s helped run Stong Parkway with her husband in Cherryvale. Survivors include one son, Gene Stong of Dalton, Georgia, one daughter, Kaylene Green of Edna, Kansas, one sister, Clara Belle Newkirk of Independence, Kansas, 7 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Franklin Stong and a great grandson.