Roberta Jean Longshore.... Age 91

VISITATION : 6-8 PM Friday, January 8, 2016 at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

SERVICE : 10 AM Saturday, January 9, 2016 also at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

BURIAL : Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, KS

MEMORIALS : Osawatomie Food Pantry (make checks payable to Senior Center-Food Pantry) or American Bible Society

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Roberta Jean Longshore age 91 of Osawatomie, Kansas died January 5, 2016 at Vintage Park of Osawatomie.

She was the oldest daughter born on September 7, 1924 to Ferrel R. and Berthel O. (Ray) Day. She had one sister, Pauline Lee, who died at birth in February of 1929.

Jean was born and raised in Miami County on a farm.  She attended grade school in a small one room country school. She attended Paola High school and graduated with the class of 1943.

After high school she started working as a secretary in the Civil Service at the Olathe Naval Base. She worked there for 7 years.   Jean married in 1949 and moved to Olathe. There she had her three children, Randy James, Paula Jean and Kevin Ray, the marriage ended in the early 60’s. Around 1956, Jean and her children moved to Osawatomie.

On December 29, 1967, Jean married Charles Fredrick “Fred” Longshore in Osawatomie, Kansas where they made their home.  Fred died October 11, 1989.

Jean started working for the State of Kansas as a ward clerk at the Osawatomie State Hospital.  She retired from OSH in September of 1985 after working there for 23 years. After retirement, Jean had several volunteer jobs, such as, working at the chamber of commerce, helping in the Head Start program and was on the Aux. Board for Miami County Medical Center.  She belonged to the local Red Hats group for a few years.

In 1945, Jean was baptized by Rev. Fred Siegmund at the First Christian Church of Paola, Kansas. While living in Olathe she joined the First Christian Church but then moved her membership to Osawatomie First Christian Church in 1956.  She was a member of that church for 59 years and taught Sunday school for 30 of those years.  She had various other jobs in the church over the years but teaching Sunday school was her favorite. In the recent years Jean started attending Fontana First Christian Church.  She has been a member of a First Christian Church somewhere for most of her life.

Jean had many hobbies such as, writing poetry, traveling, boating with Fred, planting spring flowers and browsing antiques shops.  She enjoyed going out to eat with her friends and loved southern gospel music.  She was always well known in all the churches she attended.  Jean had the strongest witness of Jesus. She never skipped a chance to tell someone about the love of Jesus.

The highlight of Jean’s life were her children, her marriage to Fred and grandchildren and recently her great grandchildren.  She was not only a great mother and grandmother but she was the best and most special mother-in-law. Jean could find good in anyone.  Her capacity to love people was enormous.

Jean is preceded in death by her Husband Fred, her parents, and Sister Pauline.

She is survived by her children; Son Randy (Joyce) Stoughton and Daughter Paula Stoughton-Brooks both of Osawatomie, KS and Son Kevin (Marty) Stoughton of Parker, KS.  Step daughters; Theresa Goldston of Colorado Springs, CO and Leslie Merritt of Caynon Lake, TX.  Eight grandchildren; Jamie (Mike) Witt, Jessica (Adam) Berg, Rob Kistler, Karla Ramsey, Melissa (Ron) Hampton, Kelley (Chris) Woods, Shannon (Justin) Day and Scott (Kristin) Stoughton. Fourteen great grandchildren; Dakota, Liam, Isabellah, Chase, Easton, Gracie, Kate, Addison, Hallie, Weston, Rylee, Sydney, Mollie and Kinley. Along with many other friends and family.