Zella Webster

Zella Maxine Webster was born on January 8, 1923 in Ringwood, Oklahoma, the daughter of Renno and Grace Fakes Arthur. She died Thursday, March 28, 2019 at the Downs Care and Rehabilitation Center in Downs, Kansas at the age of 96.

She grew up in Oklahoma before her family moved to Hanston, where she attended grade school and later graduated from high school.

During high school, she met Francis "Bill" Webster, and became high school sweethearts. On October 24, 1943, they were united in marriage at Kinsley, Kansas. Three sons and one daughter were born to this union. They lived in Hanston and Macksville, where Bill worked, and after retirement, they moved to Cawker City in 1995. They were privileged to spend nearly 58 years of marriage together when he died in August 2001.

Zella served as the school cook for many years before retiring, and had the best fried chicken for family as well. She greatly enjoyed being outdoors, whether in the garden, or out fishing, and also a great seamstress. And above all, she dearly loved her family, and cherished spending time with them.

In addition to her husband Bill, she was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Verna and Thelma, and her brother Robert.

Zella is survived by her sons, Monty (Kathy) Webster of Cawker City, Doug (Apryl) Webster of Burr Oak, and Ritchie (Cheryl) Webster of Greensburg; daughter, Renarda (Michael) Harrell of Greensburg; sister, Marlene (Don) Miller of Stafford; brother Charles (Charlotte) Arthur of North Carolina; 11 grandchildren, Blaine (Lore) Webster, Karisa (Rob) Booker, Tania (Tyler) Rowe, Tasha (Christopher) Anderson, Nicklaus Webster, Jeremy Lawrence, Joel (Carley) Lawrence, John (Sara) Webster, Dana Webster (Jesse VanSickle), Jubal Webster, and Shannon Webster; 17 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 2 PM Wednesday, April 3 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home followed by burial in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Cawker City. Visitation will be from 1 PM until the service begins. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or the Downs Care & Rehab Center.