Grace Dempsey

Grace Eleanor Dempsey 1923 2006 Grace Eleanor Dempsey, age 82, Longtime Coffeyville resident entered into rest on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center, Coffeyville, Kansas. Eleanor Dempsey was born November 2, 1923 in Coffeyville, Kansas to Clayton Arthur Axton and Laura Ellen White Axton. She attended school in Coffeyville and graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1941 where she was a member of the Field Kindley Drum and Bugle Corps. She attended Coffeyville Junior College graduating in 1943 where she was a member of the Jucoettes and sang in the Jucoette Sextet. On October 6, 1943 she married Jack Edward Dempsey in the Axton family home on West Sixth Street. They made their home in San Francisco where Mr. Dempsey was in the Armed Forces and a student at the University of San Francisco while Eleanor was employed by the Coca-Cola Company. Following World War II, they made their home in Coffeyville where Mr. Dempsey was employed by Parkersburg Rig and Reel Co. In 1952 they moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where Mr. Dempsey was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company. Over the next twenty years, they lived in Pasadena, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Borger and Houston, Texas. They returned to live in Coffeyville in 1976, when the family opened the Convenient Food Mart and Laundromat at 11th and Siggins. Mrs. Dempsey continued to work in the store for the next ten years, retiring in 1986. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Art and Literature Club and enjoyed playing bridge. She especially loved caring for her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband Jack, of the home; one son, David Dempsey of Collinsville, OK; two daughters, Jane and husband, Phillip Mashburn of Coffeyville and Kelly and husband, Charlie Pruitt of Owasso, OK; six grandchildren, Jill Tyler Kirk, Amy Greg Foster, Jake Mashburn, Ethan Pruitt, Lucas Pruitt and Logan Pruitt; two great-grandchildren, Ashley and Zachary Kirk; one brother, James Axton of Norman, OK; two sisters-in-law, Micky Axton of Eden Prairie, MN and Izetta Epps of Tulsa, OK. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at First United Methodist Church in Coffeyville, Kansas. Pastor Larry Cracraft will be officiating. Burial will follow in Penwell-Gabels Restlawn Memorial Cemetery in Coffeyville. Friends may call on Friday, August 25, 2006 from 9 AM to 9 PM at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Funeral Home, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 7:00 to 8:00 PM Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Coffeyville, Kansas. A special message may be sent to the family and obit read online at www.PenwellGabel.com