Mildred Gilkerson, 100, died December 30, 2024, after a brief illness.  She was born February 22, 1924, in Bennington Township, Ottawa County, Kansas, to John Theodore and Clara Bell (Lockard) Rhea.  She was the third of six children:  Merrill, Helen, Mildred, Dorothy, Virginia, and Hazel.

The family moved to Thomas County in the 1930s where they learned the value of hard work and creating what they needed.  Millie often talked about her childhood and the importance of family.

After graduation from Oakley High School, Mildred attended beauty school in Salina, then returned to Oakley to establish her career.

She married Kenneth Moorhous in March of 1947.  Their daughter Connie was born in June of 1948, followed years later by their son Stanley in September of 1961.

Kenneth died in 1974.

Mildred married Othal Gilkerson in 1976.  They divorced in 1989.

Mildred moved back to the family farm and enjoyed having her family around.  She kept chickens, goats, and helped with all parts of farm work.  Never one to back down from a challenge, she made many things that she needed.  She spent hours sewing, cooking, woodworking, and tending her garden.  She loved to paint, draw, and quilt.

Connie, her husband Darryl Cooper and their daughter Sara visited as often as they could.  Stan and wife Kate, with their children Hannah and Conley, lived on the farm and in Oakley where they visited Grandma Millie almost daily.  Every Sunday dinner was a feast, including the best pies.  Always humble, Millie thought her skills were mediocre, claiming one sister or another was a better cook or a better pie-maker.

She helped raise Hannah and Conley, getting them ready for the day, entertaining them for hours on end, and spoiling them as much as she could.  She made wooden toys for her grandchildren, and spent many hours cooking, drawing, and painting with them.

She was always willing to teach her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren what she knew about farming, driving tractors and trucks, gardening, raising chickens, milking goats and cows, cooking, drawing, painting, sewing and quilting, and even weaving.  For years, she made woven rugs for every floor and runners for tables and dressers.  Most likely, every family member received at least one rug or runner at some point.

After a health event, Mildred moved into her apartment in town, within two blocks of her son and his family.  Her large loom was replaced by a much smaller one, but she was just as happy with it and continued her weaving.

Millie was an excellent rummy player, and typically won every game, unless her son was playing.  In her later years, she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and word puzzles in her free time.

Millie was always up for a farm visit to see the crops, watch the cows and calves, or ride along on the combine during harvests, discussing crop details with her son.

Somewhere in her late 80s, she declared she did not wish to clean chickens again, but she was greatly entertained by watching chickens and seeing new chicks each spring.  Each winter, including 2024, she helped choose which breeds we would add to our flock in the last week of May.  She often commented on all the new breeds and feather patterns and particularly appreciated the different colored eggs that they produced.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, John and Clara Rhea; siblings: Merrill Rhea, Helen Ostmeyer, Dorothy Davis, Virginia Read, and Hazel Daniels; husbands: Kenneth Moorhous and Othal Gilkerson; daughter Connie Cooper and son-in-law Darryl Cooper.

Mildred is survived by her son Stan (Kate) Moorhous; granddaughter Hannah Moorhous (Chris Schaben) and pug Frankie; grandson Conley (Keegan) Moorhous, great grandchildren Alexis and Khoen; granddaughter Sara Hult and her children Sofia and Mason; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Cremation was chosen.  A private family service will be held at a later date.

Memorials: Mildred Gilkerson Memorial Fund may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS  67748

Sign the online guestbook at www.kennedykosterfh.com.