Retha Maxine Lakey

IMPERIAL -- Retha Maxine Lakey, 82, died Monday (July 8, 2002) at the Chase County Hospital in Imperial. She was born Sept. 16, 1919, to Guy and Lena (Smith) Landis at Haddam, Kan. She graduated from Haddam High School in 1937.

On Nov. 23, 1937, she married Russell Harold Lakey in Haddam, and the couple settled in Oregon for a short time. They moved to Holyoke, Colo. to assist his parents in farming. In 1948, the couple purchased a farm near Lamar,. She worked at Welch's grocery store in Champion in the winters. In 1976, she moved to Imperial where she worked with the Chase County Public Schools until her retirement in 1989.

She was a member of the Imperial Bible Church, a quilting club and a card club. She also worked as a volunteer at the Imperial Senior Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell in 1976; her parents; one son, Harold Lakey; two infant daughters; and one infant son.

Survivors include a son, David Lakey and wife, Linda of Imperial; daughter-in-law, Minnie Allacher of Enders; brother, Elson Landis and wife, Myra of Courtland, Kan.; sister, LaNae and husband, Jack Miller of Cobble Hill, British Columbia; sister-in-law, Bernice Landis of Haddam; and five grandsons.

Funeral services will be Friday, 10 a.m., at the Imperial Bible Church with the Rev. Bill Murphy officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery at Champion. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.

A memorial has been established to the Imperial Ambulance Fund.

Liewer Funeral Home of Imperial is in charge of arrangements.