Eldora Seehafer

Eldora Seehafer, 89, passed away December 5, 2018 at the Salina Regional Hospital. She was born December 10, 1928 to Orval and Inez Hunter Gallion on a farm north of Cawker City, Kansas in Jewell County.

She married Melvin Seehafer on April 13, 1952 at the Methodist Church in Hunter, KS. Two sons were born to this union, Galen and Rod. Melvin and Eldora were married for 66 ½ years.

She belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hunter, KS. In early years, she was active in Ladies Aid, Altar Guild, and all Hunter celebrations.

Eldora graduated from Hunter High School in the spring of 1946. She started teaching at the age of 17 in the fall of 1946 at Pleasant Hill School, where she taught for 2 years. She then taught in Hunter for 3 years and Glen Elder for 2 years. She did not teach for 4 years to have her boys. In the fall of 1957 she started teaching in Tipton. Then started teaching at the Hunter Grade School in the fall of 1958. She taught there until the Grade School closed and then moved to the unified grade school in Sylvan. Eldora received her bachelor's degree in 1965 from Marymount College in Salina. In 1972, she received the Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America Award. She retired in 1996. Many of her students remember her grand parties and making valentine mailboxes. Many of her past students fondly remember her and she remembers all of her students. She loved teaching and coaching girls basketball.

Eldora loved working outside on the farm, in the garden, and her flowers. She loved raising and carrying for all their animals. Eldora decorated for every holiday and many people drove by their farm to see what had changed each year. Eldora and Melvin loved taking the boat to the lake and taught many area people to water ski.

After retiring, she followed Rod as he coached girls basketball, Janet's music events, and all the grandchildren's activities, games, horse and sheep shows.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Orval and Inez Hunter Gallion; her brother, Gale Gallion; in-laws, Otto and Hattie Remus Seehafer; brother-in-law, Gerard Streit; and granddaughter, Shannon Lee Seehafer.

Survivors include her husband Melvin; sons, Galen (Marilyn) and Rod (Janet), both of Hunter; grandchildren, Megan of Jefferson City, MO, Sabrina of Ankeny, IA, Jason (Darci) and Mary (Zach) Hlad, both of Hunter; great grandchildren, Nash, Briggs, Lennox, and Kelvi Seehafer, and Cason and Camden Hlad; sisters-in-law, Dorris Gallion and Ila Ferne Nelson; nieces; nephews; and many friends.

Memorial services will be at 10 AM Monday, December 10 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hunter. Cremation has taken place & there will be no visitation. Memorials may be given to the Church.