Ethel L. Van Horn

Ethel La Verne “Aunt Dolly” Van Horn, 108, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 9, 2014, at The Cedars Health Care Center, McPherson. She was born on February 23, 1906, in Burlington, Kansas, the daughter of Florence Estella (Church) Means and Isaac Clayton Means.

She graduated from Burlington High School in 1925. She worked in the Farmers and Drovers National Bank, Marion, Kansas, and the First National Bank, Wichita, Kansas. She was a 70 plus year member of Order of Eastern Star (Queen Esther Chapter #32, Lyons) and 70 year member of White Shrine of Jerusalem #5, Wichita, Kansas. She belonged to the First Presbyterian Church and Mary Circle, McPherson, Kansas. She also was a volunteer for Trash to Treasure for many years.

Ethel married John A. Deardorff, and together they owned the Deardorff Furniture Store in Lyons, Kansas. He died in 1959.

She married H. Clay Van Horn of Little River, Kansas, and they did extensive traveling, spending 34 winters as snow birds in Brownsville, Texas. He died in 1973. She moved to McPherson in 1983.

All her relatives and most all friends called her Aunt Dolly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, a sister, three brothers, and a son, Clay “Duane” Van Horn. Survivors include: granddaughter, Linda Willt (Randy) of Lyons, KS, grandson, Darrell Van Horn of Corsicana, TX; great-granddaughter, Jenna Willt of Hutchinson, KS; step-son, Robert Deardorff of Wichita, KS; one niece; and many great-great nieces & nephews.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 PM, Friday, March 14, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church, McPherson with Rev. H. Dick Reynolds, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at the Lyons Municipal Cemetery, Lyons, KS with rituals performed by Queen Esther Chapter #32, Order of the Eastern Star. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, Thursday, at Stockham Family Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be given to First Presbyterian Church or Trash to Treasure in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ethel L. Van Horn please visit our Sympathy Store.