Lila Ellen (Edwards) Clary was born January 16, 1911, near Belvue in Pottawatomie County, Kansas. She was the daughter of Austin and Nora Belle (Marney) Edwards. Lila lived most of her life at Wamego and rural St. George, moving to Manhattan in 1991, where she made her home until her death November 3, 2010, at age 99.

She attended Wamego Grade and High School with the class of 1929. At the age of 11 years she began riding the train from Wamego to St. George to work at the St. George Telephone Co. on weekends, earning 75 cents. She continued to do this until her marriage to Don S. Clary on January 26, 1929.

The couple began farming northwest of St. George and then from 1937-1944 moved to St. George where they operated the telephone company. After returning to the farm, she was a charter member of the St. George Home Demonstration Unit and in 1946, the main organizer of Blackjack 4-H Club which she served as leader for several years.

Lila was the thrifty farm wife of the times who simply did without or made-do with what she had. During the hard-times years, she made most of the family's clothing, had a big garden and canned hundreds of quarts of fruits and vegetables, had a large chicken (layers) operation, and helped with other chores as needed. She was a substitute cook for the St. George Schools and helped serve many fundraiser meals for various charities. In later years Lila crocheted afghans for family members, enjoyed other crafts, and remained active in the Home Demonstration Unit which recognized her as a 50 years Extension Homemaker Unit member in 1998.

She was a member of the Manhattan First United Methodist Church and Naomi Circle of United Methodist Women and was active as long as she was able.

Following the death of her husband, Don, on November 11, 1990, she moved to a Manhattan apartment, where she volunteered at the Riley County Seniors' Service Center, also enjoying the "Lunch Bunch" of St. George and Stargazers group of Manhattan. She had been a resident of Meadowlark Hills since 2000.

Lila is survived by three daughters: Donis Barker of St. George and Yuma, AZ, Pat Vining and her husband Cecil of Richmond, and Connie Hutchinson and her husband Darrell of Georgetown, TX; six grandchildren: Jerry Barker and his wife Imelda, Greg Barker and his wife Marilyn, Becky Koch and her husband Kim, Rachel Casey and her husband Jonathan, Darrin Hutchison and his wife Amy, and Trent Hutchinson; 11 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren. She had been the first of a five generation family for 15 years.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Paul H. Barker; three grandsons: J.R. Barker, Don Ralph Barker and Brian Vining; two brothers: Floyd Edwards and John J. Edwards; two sisters: Maude Crumrine and Thelma Schooley; and six siblings who died when young.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Nancy J Kollhoff officiating. The family will greet friends prior to the service starting at 9:30 A.M. Interment will follow in the Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan.

Online condolences may be left for the family by clicking on "Send Condolences" on this page.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research or the Riley County Seniors' Service Center. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.