WARREN, Marla Jean (Neal) - April 20, 1937 - d. May 6, 2023

[patyrn]

Marla Jean Warren, age 86, of Howard, Kansas, passed away May 6, 2023 at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, Kansas.  She was born April 20, 1937 in Springfield, Illinois to Byron and Eunice (Bloom) Neal.

Marla was raised alongside three brothers and five sisters.  When she was a young child, the family moved to Wichita, Kansas where she attended and graduated from West High School in the Class of 1955. During her high school years, she received many sharpshooter awards from the NRA.  She continued her education for a year at Friends University in Wichita before going to work for the Wichita Police Department in the records department.  After leaving there, she worked at Arapaho Vet Clinic for a time due to her love for animals. She then went to work at Wesley Medical Center where she worked as a Surgical Technician until retiring in 2009.

On November 1, 1958, Marla married Lawrence "Larry" Warren.  Together they had two sons, Brian and Marc, and spent 18 years together until his passing in December 1976.

Marla loved to travel, and over the years, she took numerous cruises, visited China, and used her love for travel along with her love to help others and took many yearly trips to the Dominican Republic as a volunteer surgical technician with the Medical Ministry International.  In her spare time, Marla enjoyed crocheting and sewing and loved to make things to give to her family and friends.  She also enjoyed playing Bingo and reading.

Marla is survived by her sons, Brian (Monica) Warren of Howard, Kansas and Marc Warren of Severy, Kansas; brothers, Jack (Becky) Neal of Wichita, Kansas, Rick (Robin) Neal of Wichita, Kansas, and Barney Neal of Denver, Colorado; sisters, Donna Sears of Showlow, Arizona and Joyca (Alvin) Tracy of Haysville, Kansas; and many, many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her hsuband, Larry; and her sisters, Cheryl, Peggy, and Nancy.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 217 N. Greenwood,  Severy, Kansas.  Memorial donations are suggested to the Medical Ministry International and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.  Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas has been entrusted with arrangements.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)