Frances Felts

Frances L. (Adams) Felts, 94, Liberty, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, at her home, surrounded by loved ones.

Frances was born Oct. 26, 1927, at home in Tyro, Kansas, to Charles Perry and Katie (Elliott) Adams. The family later moved to Caney and then Dearing, Kansas.

She graduated in 1945 from Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville, where she was a member of the Tornado Tillies pep squad. She graduated with honors at age 19 from Coffeyville Junior College in May 1947.

Frances married Wayne Felts June 15, 1947. They made their home in Coffeyville, before moving to their longtime farmstead in rural Liberty. Frances and Wayne enjoyed 65 years of marriage before his passing Jan. 23, 2013. The family received the Kansas Farm Bureau Century Farm Award in 2021.

She started working at 14, helping at her father’s grocery store. In college, a business teacher encouraged her to get a higher-skilled job and she found work as a bookkeeper at the local prescription shop. She later worked at JC Penney in Coffeyville before starting her family with Wayne.

After bookkeeping for Kugler Implement in Coffeyville in the late 1950s and working as a rural mail carrier, Frances began full-time employment in 1966 at the Social Rehabilitation Services office in Independence, Kansas, until 1976. She then worked in Child Support Enforcement until she retired from SRS in 1992.

She was a longtime community leader for the Peppy Progressive 4-H Club, served on the Liberty election board, and was financial secretary for the Liberty United Methodist Church, where she and Wayne were lifetime members.

Frances and Wayne also were avid square dancers and longtime members of the Promenade Square Dance Club in Independence. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sports and other activities, as well as crocheting, traveling, fishing and camping with family.

Survivors include her sons, Richard Felts and wife, Shirley, Liberty, and Larry Felts, and wife, Ruth, Liberty; daughter, Mary Schaplowsky and husband, Gary, Coffeyville, widowed daughter-in-law, Sue Jones, Edna; grandchildren, Mike Felts and wife, Patty, Liberty, Cindy DeTar and husband, Darrell, Coffeyville, Darren Felts and wife, Jacquelyne, Liberty, Ryan Felts and wife, Raegan, Shawnee, Kim Spillman and husband, Mike, Coffeyville, Kristi Ewing and husband, Adam, Liberty, Kelly Smasal and husband, Mike, Baldwin City, Tommy Felts and wife, Cassie, Overland Park, Brian Schaplowsky and wife, Krisa, Coffeyville, Kevin Schaplowsky, Boca Raton, Florida; 22 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; son, Tom Felts; and brothers, Charles Adams, Gene Adams and Albert Adams.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 10:00am at the Liberty United Methodist Church.  Burial will immediately follow at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.  Friends are invited to sign the register at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel on Monday prior to the visitation. Visitation will be held on Monday,  January 24, 2022 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the church. The family suggests memorials to the Liberty United Methodist Church and Wildcat Extension District 4-H Foundation.To share a memory or to leave a message of condolence, please​ visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com