Irene Elmore

(From Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home)

Irene Ann Elmore, 90, of Chetopa, passed from this life to her Heavenly home on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Freeman West in Joplin, Missouri.

Irene was born on January 3, 1933, in Ogden, Utah, to Howard and Julia (Keil) Lister. The family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, when Irene was three days old. She grew up in Omaha, attending Washington Grade School and Central High School. For a short time, she took secretarial classes at Omaha University before being employed at the Woodman of the World Insurance Company as a secretary.

On October 8, 1954, Irene married David A. Elmore. They lived in Omaha with their four children before deciding to move to Chetopa in 1966 to buy a restaurant. It was called Dave’s Dairy Dean, and later changed to Dave’s Good Food. Irene helped her husband run the restaurant for many years before they sold the business in 1987 and retired.

Irene enjoyed being a part of the Chetopa community. She was a Girl Scout leader for five years, helped set up a tennis club, was a member of the Arts and Crafts Club and the Chetopa Chamber of Commerce.

She was a very talented artist and musician who enjoyed doing stained glass, watercolor painting and many other crafts. She collected Union Pacific train memorabilia. She played the piano, organ, guitar and accordion and loved to sing, especially hymns and Christmas songs.

In the late 1960’s, she played guitar and sang in a group called the Versatiles with five other ladies from Chetopa. The group played at various events in the surrounding area. Irene was also a former member of the Sweet Adelines – Show Me Harmony Chorus in Joplin, Missouri, and a current member of the Keenagers Chorus in Riverton.

Irene played the organ at the Vinita Christian Science Society in Vinita, Oklahoma, and later became 1st Reader. For many years, Irene was a member of the Keelville Church, where she played the piano. She also played the piano for a few years at Faith Victory Church, where she was currently attending. She loved her church and the people there were very loving and helpful to her.

Her Christian faith was the center of her life. Raised as a Christian Scientist, Irene had a “born again” experience after moving to Chetopa. In 1982, Nancy Whetstone took Irene to a Women’s Aglow meeting where Irene gave her heart to Jesus and was born again. Finding Christ gave Irene joy beyond measure and the assurance in her heart that she was on her way to heaven. She was a member of the Women’s Aglow Fellowship in Parsons for over 20 years, serving as Praise and Worship Leader, Recording Secretary and later President.

During their retirement years, Irene and her husband became members of the Christian Motorcycle Association – CMA. For many years, they rode motorcycles, attending various rallies, and sharing the salvation message along the way.

Irene made many friends in her 90 years. She was always willing to pray with anyone, give a smile, a hug or a word of encouragement, and to help in any way she could. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much. She enjoyed being a part of her grandchildren’s lives and attended many music and sporting events to cheer them on. She enjoyed spending time with them, playing outside or doing crafts.

Irene loved to be outside and took on the job of grafting dozens of new trees, cleaning and mowing the family’s pecan groves, which she enjoyed very much.

Survivors include:

Two daughters – Nancy Cunningham (Scott) of St. Louis, Missouri

Barbara Deyoe (Ted) of Chetopa, Kansas

Two sons – John Elmore (Janice) of Glendora, California

Rich Elmore (Susan) of Liberty, Missouri

Twelve grandchildren – Paula (Jamie); Charlie; Justin (Noelle); Jennifer (Brad); Greg (Sixta); Tim; Jessica (Drew); Josh (Megan); Jake (Catherine); Nathan (Whitney); Tyler; and Abbey

Nine great-grandchildren – Jozie; Taylor; Ayden; Lucas; Andrew; Christian; Mia; Annabelle; and Liam

She was preceded in death by her husband, David A. Elmore, on August 29, 2020.

The Memorial Service will be at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Chetopa. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Faith Victory Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.