Geneva Avarilla (Egy) Merryfield went to be with our Lord on July 24, 2010, at Newton Medical Center. She was 99.
She was born to Frank Egy and Blanche (Dibble) Egy on Nov. 10, 1910, in McMinville, Ore. She was the fourth of seven children born to this union — three girls and four boys: Helen Page, Loucetta Hoffman, Bill, Cecil, Dale, and Edwin (Tote) Egy. All preceded her in death.
Both parents died within two months in 1922 in Clinton, Ark.
Uncle Ira Spangler brought all seven children back to Hesston, but soon Geneva was sent to live with Carl and Retta Spangler, south of Peabody. They raised her to adulthood.
She graduated from Newton High School in 1929 with a major and minor in math. She received a teaching certificate and taught for a short time.
She married Homer Alexander Merryfield on Sept. 30, 1934, in Peabody. He preceded her in death from a farm accident in February, 1959.
Homer and Geneva were never blessed with children of their own, so in 1948 they adopted two daughters of brother Charles Merryfield: Geneva Rae, 4, and Carolyn Ann, 8.
Geneva enjoyed all aspects of being a farmer’s wife, good neighbor, and friend.
She was an excellent gardener and loved canning produce. Other interests were all sorts of handiwork, sewing, and especially cooking.
She was an active member of Peabody United Methodist Church until moving to a nursing home in 2002.
During her years in Peabody, she worked for several businesses, mainly after Homer died.
She belonged to several clubs and the Rebekah Lodge, was a 4-H leader, and was a nurse’s aide at Peabody Memorial Hospital.
She is survived by her two daughters, Carolyn Windsor of Newton and Geneva Rae of Enterprise; five grandchildren (Randy Taylor and wife, Laura, of Valley Center; Rob Taylor and wife, Lois, of Hopkinton, Iowa; Rene Ensz and husband, Brad, of Newton; and Rex Jordan and wife, Joan, of Valley Center); five great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren (Ryan and Logan Taylor of Manhattan; Heather Taylor of Monticello, Iowa; Sara and Staci Ensz of Newton; and Eli and Brooke Faulhaber of Valley Center); one great-great-grandson, Cristian Ray Taylor; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Baker Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 30, 2010, at Baker Funeral Home in Peabody. Burial will be private.
Memorials may be left to the Methodist church of Peabody or to the Kansas Christian Home.