K. Iris Gilbert, 99 of Fredonia, Kansas, died Sunday, June 21, 2009 at the Golden Living Center in Fredonia, Kansas. Iris was born December 30, 2009 in Fall River, Kansas, the oldest of five children born to William and Nora (Bell) Haggard.
Iris graduated from Longton High Shool at the age of 16. By the age of 18, she graduated from college in Denver Colorado. She then taught school until she married Harley Ermine Gilbert on May 3, 1930 in Fredonia. Iris and Ermine took up farming. They were married for 39 years until his death on March 15, 1970.
Iris worked hard and was able to accomplish a 1-acre flower bed raising hybrid irises with over 3500 different varieties She was known as a good cook, enjoyed quilting, and loved to go fishing with her family and grandchidlren. She was also known to drive quite fast on gravel roads. At the age of 80, Iris was baptized in the family's pond.
Iris is survived by one son, Harley D. Gilbert and wife Patty of Fredonia, Kansas; one brother, Lawrence Haggard of Wellington, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Jerry and wife Vickie Gilbert, Clint and wife Amy Gilbert, Tammy and husband Feyn Baker, Pauline and Jim Ramzey, Pamela and Gary Kirk, Patricia and husband Richard McGuire, and John Wayne Smith; 19 great-grandchildren; and 8 great-great-grandchidlren.
Iris was prceded in death by her husband, Ermine; her daughter Mary Reba Smith; two brothers, Rex and John Haggard; and a sister, Vera Hall.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Countryside Funeral Home at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Robin Haines of the Flint Hills Assembly of God Church in Howard officiating. Bural will follow at the Busby, Kansas cemetery. Public visitation will be on Friday, June 26, 2009 from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. at CountrysideFuneral Home with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The family suggests memorial contributions to Gideons international and may be sent to the funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at
www.countrysidefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736.
(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)
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