Ethel Lavanchee Poovey

Ethel Lavanchee Poovey, age 90, formerly of Westphalia, Kansas, died on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at the Valley Vista Good Samaritan Home in Wamego, where she had been a resident since August of 2007. She was born on September 1, 1918 at 6:15 p.m. to Charles Orthello (Dick) Green and Bertha Matilda (Drollinger) Green, in their home at 503 Normal Street, Alva, Oklahoma. She attended Alva Grade and High Schools. She graduated from Northwestern State Teachers College in 1939 with a degree in education, having enrolled in her first class at the age of 14. She first taught school in Driftwood, Oklahoma, and later in Oxford, Kansas. It was there that she met her husband of 50 years plus, Waldo Poovey. Ethel was united in marriage to Waldo Poovey in 1942 at Minneapolis, Kansas. In 1951 they moved to their present farm Northeast of Westphalia, Kansas, where she lived for 56 years. She continued teaching children at Maple Grove and Westphalia Grade Schools before completing her Master's Degree at Emporia State Teacher's College in 1969. Shortly after that time she became the Title One Reading teacher for U.S.D. 365. She taught school for a total of 43 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Waldo Poovey in 2004; one son, Jerry Poovey in 1957; two brothers, Fred and Bob Green; and two sisters, Floy Green and Bertha Alice Peebles. Ethel is survived by two sons, Dick Poovey and wife Marilyn of Paxico, Kansas; Bill Poovey and wife Rita of Westphalia, Kansas; two grandchildren, Travis Poovey of Paxico, Kansas; Delane Janssen of Geneseo; one great grandson, Wade Janssen of Geneseo; and one sister, Elisabeth Sweeney of Winfield, Kansas. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and a host of former students and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2009, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Cherry Mound Cemetery. The family will greet friends at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening, February 13, 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to a teaching scholarship in her name. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .