Violet Irene Walker

Surrounded by her family, Violet Irene Walker, 92, passed away September 7, 2017, at the Golden Age Living Home in Cheney, Kansas. Violet, although she was known as Irene, was born to William and Essie (Spidle) Lively March 17, 1925, on the family farm in Rural Graham County, Kansas. She was raised on that farm with six brothers: William “Bill”, Rudolph “Buck”, Harold, Charley, Sammy and Ray; five sisters: Marcia, Betty, Marie, Edna and Donna. Alice, Nellie and Viola died in infancy. Irene was 18 when her father died in 1943. After his death she helped her mother with the younger children. Their mother passed away in March of the following year. August 14, 1943, Irene and Irvin Walker were married at the Graham County Courthouse by the Probate Judge. Seven children were born to this union: Marilyn, Lucille, Martha, June, Rita, Frank and Jim. Irene was a MOTHER in the true sense of the word. She was a homemaker while she worked to support her family in the restaurant business for 30 years. She also worked for the Hill City Housing Authority, planning recreation and serving on the main board of directors. Irene made time for hobbies too. Making quilts was her favorite. She made quilts not only for her children and grandchildren, but also many friends received them as gifts. As the saying goes: “Never underestimate the power of a woman.” And an even greater one should be: “Never underestimate the power of a mother.” Rita recalls that one afternoon she and her sister June were sitting in the neighbors’ driveway watching a wedding procession. While watching, the neighbors pulled into the driveway and she was run over. Irene and her sister ran out of the house and Mom literally picked up the car as her sister pulled me out! This girl is now 63 years old and hopes to be as strong as her mother. Irene always prided herself in knowing what was going on with her kids all the time. Well, this is one that she didn’t find out about until much later and it amazed her. During Marilyn’s senior year her class had a class trip planned to Larned. The night before several friends slept over. For some reason they decided to do laundry. So they opened the window, crawled out carefully, pushed the car down the street, quietly started the car and away they went. What an accomplishment because mom was always vigilant! Irene always liked to go to dances with her lady friends and one night they went to Quinter for a dance. Late that night a call was received that mother’s car broke down. Laverne and Martha packed some clothes and left for Quinter to take mom and her friends home to Hill City to spend the night. What a ride! Irene and her friends entertained us all the way back to Hill City. One particular wedding dance that the family attended, Irene was on the dance floor, while her four year old great-grandson Andrew was observing the fun. He bravely went out to her and asked her to dance. She loved it. Irene loved rocks. She collected them and accepted them from family and friends. When they presented her with a rock, she immediately wrote on it as to where it came from. One of the farthest came from Viet Nam. When the family gathered at Lake Cheney for four days, the family recalls that they saw more of her backside, stooped over gathering rocks! Irene had few “extras” in her life, but having her hair done was one that she thoroughly enjoyed. Coincidently, daughter June was a beautician. June recalls that those hair appointments were a special time for both of them. Many meaningful and memorable conversations took place during those times she “fixed” mom’s hair. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Irvin Walker; brothers: William, Rudolph, Harold, Charley, Sammy and Raye; sisters: Marcia May Buss, Betty Thomas, Edna VanLoenen, Alice, Nellie and Viola. Left to mourn her passing are her daughters: Marilyn Thieme, of Wichita, Lucille Hahn of Wichita, Martha (Laverne) Carlson of Wichita, June (Richard) Fairbanks of Garden City, Rita (Len) Lovato of Milton; her sons: Frank and wife Jackie Walker of Hugoton; Jim and wife Carol Walker of Ransom; sisters; Marie Garrison of Hill City, Donna (Gerald) Gano of Hill City; 81 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great-grandchildren. Irene had one of her girls total up the family members. When they reported 81, her comment was “Look what I started!” Mom, Grandma, Great-grandma, and Great, great-grandma: “We miss you and know you are safe in the arms of Jesus.