Clarann Catherine O'Malley

Clarann Catherine O'Malley, age 89, of Westphalia, Kansas, passed away on Monday, December 8, 2014, at Anderson County Hospital Long Term Care in Garnett, Kansas. She was born on November 15, 1925, in Parker, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Foltz) Miller. Clarann grew up in rural Anderson County, attending one room schools. She attended Garnett High School, graduating in 1944. After high school, she began working at Bell Memorial Hospital in Kansas City, what is now KU Medical Center. She would ride the milk train to get to and from work in the city. Clarann then worked for Dr. White in Garnett. During this time Clarann met her future husband Bob at a dance at Idlewild, north of Garnett. Clarann was united in marriage to Charles Robert O'Malley on May 28, 1949, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett, Kansas, in a double wedding with her sister Frieda. This marriage was blessed with eight children. They made their first home at Emerald, later living in Garnett and Westphalia, where they raised their family. Clarann was a very hard worker, raising eight children required a lot of gardening, canning, and cooking. She always made two big meals each day, including something baked fresh every day. Clarann sewed all of her children's clothes, often making them matching outfits. Although Clarann was busy raising her family she always made time for her elderly neighbors and family. She worked as a cook at the Westphalia school for a few years. After their children were raised, they enjoyed going on bus trips and going to dances at the Garnett VFW. In 1991 they moved to Garnett due to Bob's illness. Clarann enjoyed watching and being entertained by her grandchildren. In her later years she kept busy crocheting and quilting. Clarann shared the last 11 years of her life with the staff and residents of Long Term Care, many of them came to be considered as family to her. Clarann was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Anna Miller; step-father, Walter Miller; and her husband, Bob O'Malley on January 14, 1995. She is survived by her children, Wilma Setter and husband Gary of Westphalia; Donna Croisant and husband Jerry of Elsmore, Kansas; Alma Hogan and husband Dan of Paola; Barbara Geffert and husband Mike of Iola, Kansas; Gerry O'Malley and wife Diane of Westphalia, Kansas; Bill O'Malley of Paola, Kansas; Marilyn Bogle and husband Hugh of Greeley, Kansas; Shari Millican and husband Patrick of Tulsa, Oklahoma; one sister, Frieda Peters of Richmond, Kansas; two brothers, Leon "Bud" Miller and wife Norma of Drummond, Oklahoma and Dick Miller and wife Judy of Garnett; nineteen grandchildren; and twenty-one great grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, December 12, 2014 at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Holy Angels Cemetery. A rosary will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas, with visitation following. Memorial contributions may be made to Anderson County Long Term Care and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .