Person:Grace Sowers (1)

Obituary

Grace Irene Bastin, eldest child of James Orville "J.O." and Ruby Ida (Nahrung) Sowers, was born June 11, 1921, at her parents' farm home near Halford, Kansas, in Thomas County. She passed away Friday, May 9, 1997, at her daughter's home in Lenexa, Kansas, at the age of 75. Grace was reared on the farm where she was born. She attended Pleasant Hill School and was valedictorian of her senior class at Colby High School. Grace later continued her education at Colby Community College for two years. She was a member of the frrst graduating class of C.C.C. On July 1, 1945, Grace was united in marriage to Cleo E. Bastin in the Gem Baptist Church, Gem, Kansas. They resided in Colby for a year before moving to their farm north of Rexford, May I, 1946. Grace was a homemaker and had done substitute school teaching in Rexford and taught in the Christian School in Gem. She was very active in the Rexford Community Church, Women's Aglow, After Five, and several Bible study groups. She taught Sunday school, sang in a quartet, and the church choir, enjoyed playing the piano and gardening. She was a loving mother and loved to spend time with her family and friends. Survivors include her husband, Cleo Bastin of Selden, Kansas, currently staying at 14107 W. 93rd Terrace, Lenexa, Kansas, 66215; son and wife, John and Karen Bastin of Salina; two daughters and their husbands, Edith and Elby Adamson of Clay Center, and Janet and Mark Carson of Lenexa; seven brothers, Lon Sowers of Gem, Lewis Sowers and 'wife, Audrey, of Bird City, Byron Sowers of Colby, Dwight Sowers and wife, Jeanette, of Colby, Frank Sowers of Benckleman, Nebraska, Ralph Sowers and wife, Nancy of Fort Bragg, California, and Robert Sowers and wife, Francis, of Gallup, New Mexico; one sister, Edith Sowers of Colby; six grandchildren, Jeremy, Kristin and Justin Bastin and B.J., Timmy and David Carson; numerous other relatives and a host of friends. Grace was preceded in death by a son, James Harvey on July 6, 1956; her parents; her brother, Wayne Sowers; and three sisters-in-law.