Esther Arlene Grecian

Esther Arlene Grecian passed away Sunday afternoon, June 26, 2016 at the Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in WaKeeney, Kansas at the age of 92. She was born April 25, 1924 in Ogallah, Kansas to the late Louis and MaLinda (Claycamp) Hillman. On February 24, 1944 she was united in marriage to Russell Grecian in Hays, Kansas. They were blessed with five children, Richard, MaLinda, Velda, Charlotte and Shirley. When Arlene wasn’t spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was busy making quilts for her family and friends. She had an outstanding reputation for homemade strawberry and plum jelly, and was an avid cookie jar collector. You might say she had quite an abundant variety of jars throughout her home. Always a loving wife, mother, friend and neighbor, Arlene was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in WaKeeney. She loved to dance, play scratch tickets, and take trips to the casino. One of her greatest joys was fishing with the children. They all had their own special fishing hole where they had each caught their biggest fish. Arlene is survived by her daughters MaLinda Lou Swatzell and husband Vic of Phillipsburg, Velda Irene Skolaut of WaKeeney, Charlotte Louise Goff and husband Fred of WaKeeney, and Shirley Ann Grecian of Hays; daughter-in-law Shelley Grecian of Beloit; seventeen grandchildren; forty-four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Louis and MaLinda Hillman; husband Russell Grecian; brothers Martin, Oscar, Irvin, Howard and Darrell Hillman; sisters Minnie McClure, Bert Koenik, Laura Dixon and Lois McCoy; and son Richard Louis Grecian. To say that Arlene had a big heart would be an understatement. To know her was to be loved by her, whether family, friend, neighbor or stranger. She poured out her love in scraps of fabric, one stitch at a time. Our hearts will hold together the pieces of her memories, and like her quilts, they will keep us warm forever. Funeral Services will be at 9:30 A.M. on Friday July 1, 2016 at the Wakeeney Bethlehem Lutheran Church with burial following at the Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery in WaKeeney, Kansas. Visitation will be from 5:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or V.F.W. Auxiliary and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First, Stockton, Kansas 67669. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com