Name of Deceased: Rachel Louise Dryer Age: 97
Date of Death: April 7, 2014
Place of Death: Scott County Hospital, Scott City, Kansas
Date of Birth: August 23, 1916
Rachel Louise Dryer passed away at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kan., on April 7, 2014, following a brief illness. She was born on August 23, 1916 in Madison, Kansas, to William Aaron and Carmen Grace (Focht) Boles. Louise grew up in Madison & Emporia Kan., attending Emporia State University. There she met Cecil Ray Dryer whom she married on May 23, 1936 in Cottonwood Falls, Kan. Their son, William Laurence Dryer, was born on June 15, 1937. Both preceded her in death; Cecil on April 1, 1989 and William on October 24, 2011.
After living in several locations during World War II, Cecil and Louise settled permanently in Great Bend, Kan. in 1951, having moved most recently from Leoti, Kan. Louise was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Great Bend. She also spent many years as a teller at Security State Bank in Great Bend.
Louise had a great love of family and of history. Although she enjoyed reading historical books and novels, and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her true passion was genealogy, which combined the two things she loved the most. Louise enjoyed the relationships she built with family members all around the country even more than she reveled in tracking down a new piece of information about family history. She was also an avid gardener & crocheted, always happily passing her tremendous knowledge and skills in these areas along to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And, as anyone who was fortunate enough to eat a meal with the Dryers knows, Louise was an extraordinary cook. Her warmth, strength, love and support will be greatly missed by her surviving family.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Dryer, of Scott City; two granddaughters, Amy Overton and her husband Doug of DeKalb, Ill., and Brenda Chelvan and her husband Chris of Salina, Kan.; four great-grandchildren, Madelyn and Emily Overton, and Joshua and Katie Chelvan; nephews, David Boles and his wife Ann of Madison, Kan., and Dan Dryer and Susan Pomeroy of Leawood, Kan.; and nieces Martha Guarnaschelli and her husband John of Louisville, Ky. and Debby Edelen and her husband Glen of Versailles, Ky.; cousin Eugene Caylor and his wife Karen of Shawnee, Kan.; and special friends Dennis and Gloria Arnberger of Great Bend.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 12, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church, Great Bend with the Reverend Scott V. Solether officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2014 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to First Presbyterian Church or the William L. Dryer Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, Kansas 67530