FRIEND, Phyllis N. (Lanning) - b. August 23, 1941 - d. February 24, 2016

[patyrn]

Phyllis N. "Maudie" Friend, age 74, of Elk Falls, Kansas, passed away February 24, 2016 at her home surrounded by her family.  She was born in Howard, Kansas on August 23, 1941, the daughter of Eugene "Gene" and Hazel (Van Buskirk) Lanning.

Phyllis graduated from Howard High School in 1959. On May 10, 1959, she married Melvin Friend in Howard, Kansas.  She was a homemaker and a retired school bus driver.  She also served as the City Clerk of Elk Falls, Kansas for many years.  She was a member of the Howard Baptist Church and Ferguson-Spease American Legion Auxiliary.

Phyllis is survived by her son, Melvin Friend, jr. of Franklin, Kansas; daughters, Linda Majewski of Independence, Kansas, Laura Rivera of Hutchinson, and Christina Friend of Elk Falls, Kansas; brothers, Tom Lanning and Larry Lanning, both of Howard, Kansas and Terry Lanning of Coffeyville, Kansas; sisters, Wanda Clark of Howard, Kansas, Mary Wade of Eureka, Kansas and Kathy Fouts of Augusta, Kansas; 7 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Hazel; her husband, Melvin; and her brother, Bill Lanning.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 29, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.  Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will follow at Elk Falls Cemetery in Elk Falls, Kansas.  Family suggests memorials to Harry Hynes Hospice and may be left with or mailed to Countryside Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)