1919
Geneva
2015
Geneva Dewey
February 25, 1919 — March 10, 2015
Geneva Elizabeth Dewey
Geneva was born February 25 in the winter of 1919 to her parents Fred and Ella Dennis. They had waited 9 years for another child since the birth of their son, Elmer. 1919 was the winter of the tragic Spanish flu. Pregnant women were especially vulnerable, so Ella stayed home all winter to avoid getting sick. They lived on a farm in Mansfield, Missouri, on land that was homesteaded by Fred’s Grandfather around the time of the Civil War. They had no indoor water supply and drew water from the well many times each day. The house was mainly heated from a wood fired cook stove in the kitchen which was stoked up in the morning and used for cooking and heating all day.
Geneva was a lively child, her father called her “Perk”. She loved playing with her farm kittens, dressing them in doll clothes. She loved the chickens too, playing with the chicks and naming them. The children walked to school in all kinds of weather. Occasionally one of the cousins would drive a model T and Geneva would get a wild ride across the countryside. She had lots of cousins in Mansfield and as many of them grew up and even moved to Kansas City. She stayed close to them like brothers and sisters.
Church was important to the people of Mansfield. The Dennis family had a long history with the First Baptist Church. Geneva even had a grandfather who was a Baptist “Circuit Rider”, traveling on horseback, preaching to people all across the countryside.
Geneva met her husband to be, Robert Dewey, at a church supper. He was also born in Mansfield three years before her to Arthur and Ruth Dewey. Arthur was from England, a horse importer and a veterinarian. Robert had three sisters; Betty, Albina and Mae. Geneva would be very close to these women her entire life. She was especially close with Mae, who married Elmer, her brother. Their children would be double cousins.
The depression years were hard on everyone, especially the young people. They were lucky to live on farms where they could raise and grow some food. Geneva told about many times having only potato soup to eat and milk from their cow.
In 1938 Robert and Geneva were married. Then came Dwain in 1939 and Charlotte in 1940. They were both born at home in Mansfield, but their growing family and the need for work necessitated a move to Springfield. Robert worked in the cheese factory, Geneva kept house and raised the children. Bill was born in 1944 in Springfield, the family’s first to be born in a hospital. When the war (WWII) started it involved almost every family in the country. Robert was drafted and went to train at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Geneva and another army wife went to visit their husbands at Fort Knox. Can you imagine the trip in those cars with those road conditions?
When the war was over Robert wanted a better future for his family and did what many did and moved to Kansas City for more opportunity. Their daughter Carol was born in Springfield and moved with the now complete family in 1951. Many of Geneva’s cousins were here and June even stayed with the family to help with the children. June was a gentle, sweet person and was like a sister to Geneva. Robert started driving trucks and grew the business with his sons into a large group of Dewey Leasing and Freight Systems.
The children all grew up and attended college. As the children were married Geneva’s life would change. She had more time to pursue gardening and discovered her talent in painting. Charlotte was beginning to show signs of MS. Her daughter-in-law, Donna, took them to some painting classes and they developed their talents quickly. With each painting Geneva would complete, Robert would admire them even more. Robert always appreciated the arts and was encouraging.
But then Charlotte’s MS continued to grow worse, Geneva would never tire of helping her. She researched cures, drove to her house daily, arranged for help and never gave up. She tried to keep a positive mental outlook even when her husband was stricken with cancer. She told me about times people helped her and she knew they must have been angels. Even after Robert passed away she never gave up on Charlotte. Her own dementia forced her to quit driving. I think her dementia softened the loss of Charlotte.
She wanted to stay at home as long as she could and have ladies help her. But she would sometimes say she would like to go to church where she could meet men. She lived out her last year at an assisted living facility, where there were parties, friends, and lots of caring people who will miss her. But no one will miss her more than her family, but we know that she is with her larger family and for that we are grateful.
It is stunning to think about all of the changes in American life that she witnessed. We too will witness dramatic changes in our own lives. I hope that I can use her example to face these changes with the courage, humor and devotion she maintained throughout her life.
By Carol McCall
After a very long and healthy life Geneva Dewey passed away peacefully with her family by her side on March 10th, 2015 at the age of 96. She was a much loved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother. She was also a talented artist, gardener and caregiver.
She is survived by her son, Dwain Dewey (Mary), her son Bill Dewey (Carolyn) and her daughter Carol McCall (Billy). Also surviving are six grandchildren; Connie Smith (Steve), Nancy DeLaval, Debbie Summers (Mike), Rob Dewey (Cindere), Kimberley Wahaus (Rick), Pamela Sandler (Todd); as well as ten great grandchildren and numerous great, great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Robert Dewey and her daughter, Charlotte Holloway and one great grandchild. A visitation will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday March 13th at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS. 66210, with a funeral service immediately following.
Geneva was born February 25 in the winter of 1919 to her parents Fred and Ella Dennis. They had waited 9 years for another child since the birth of their son, Elmer. 1919 was the winter of the tragic Spanish flu. Pregnant women were especially vulnerable, so Ella stayed home all winter to avoid getting sick. They lived on a farm in Mansfield, Missouri, on land that was homesteaded by Fred’s Grandfather around the time of the Civil War. They had no indoor water supply and drew water from the well many times each day. The house was mainly heated from a wood fired cook stove in the kitchen which was stoked up in the morning and used for cooking and heating all day.
Geneva was a lively child, her father called her “Perk”. She loved playing with her farm kittens, dressing them in doll clothes. She loved the chickens too, playing with the chicks and naming them. The children walked to school in all kinds of weather. Occasionally one of the cousins would drive a model T and Geneva would get a wild ride across the countryside. She had lots of cousins in Mansfield and as many of them grew up and even moved to Kansas City. She stayed close to them like brothers and sisters.
Church was important to the people of Mansfield. The Dennis family had a long history with the First Baptist Church. Geneva even had a grandfather who was a Baptist “Circuit Rider”, traveling on horseback, preaching to people all across the countryside.
Geneva met her husband to be, Robert Dewey, at a church supper. He was also born in Mansfield three years before her to Arthur and Ruth Dewey. Arthur was from England, a horse importer and a veterinarian. Robert had three sisters; Betty, Albina and Mae. Geneva would be very close to these women her entire life. She was especially close with Mae, who married Elmer, her brother. Their children would be double cousins.
The depression years were hard on everyone, especially the young people. They were lucky to live on farms where they could raise and grow some food. Geneva told about many times having only potato soup to eat and milk from their cow.
In 1938 Robert and Geneva were married. Then came Dwain in 1939 and Charlotte in 1940. They were both born at home in Mansfield, but their growing family and the need for work necessitated a move to Springfield. Robert worked in the cheese factory, Geneva kept house and raised the children. Bill was born in 1944 in Springfield, the family’s first to be born in a hospital. When the war (WWII) started it involved almost every family in the country. Robert was drafted and went to train at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Geneva and another army wife went to visit their husbands at Fort Knox. Can you imagine the trip in those cars with those road conditions?
When the war was over Robert wanted a better future for his family and did what many did and moved to Kansas City for more opportunity. Their daughter Carol was born in Springfield and moved with the now complete family in 1951. Many of Geneva’s cousins were here and June even stayed with the family to help with the children. June was a gentle, sweet person and was like a sister to Geneva. Robert started driving trucks and grew the business with his sons into a large group of Dewey Leasing and Freight Systems.
The children all grew up and attended college. As the children were married Geneva’s life would change. She had more time to pursue gardening and discovered her talent in painting. Charlotte was beginning to show signs of MS. Her daughter-in-law, Donna, took them to some painting classes and they developed their talents quickly. With each painting Geneva would complete, Robert would admire them even more. Robert always appreciated the arts and was encouraging.
But then Charlotte’s MS continued to grow worse, Geneva would never tire of helping her. She researched cures, drove to her house daily, arranged for help and never gave up. She tried to keep a positive mental outlook even when her husband was stricken with cancer. She told me about times people helped her and she knew they must have been angels. Even after Robert passed away she never gave up on Charlotte. Her own dementia forced her to quit driving. I think her dementia softened the loss of Charlotte.
She wanted to stay at home as long as she could and have ladies help her. But she would sometimes say she would like to go to church where she could meet men. She lived out her last year at an assisted living facility, where there were parties, friends, and lots of caring people who will miss her. But no one will miss her more than her family, but we know that she is with her larger family and for that we are grateful.
It is stunning to think about all of the changes in American life that she witnessed. We too will witness dramatic changes in our own lives. I hope that I can use her example to face these changes with the courage, humor and devotion she maintained throughout her life.
By Carol McCall
After a very long and healthy life Geneva Dewey passed away peacefully with her family by her side on March 10th, 2015 at the age of 96. She was a much loved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother. She was also a talented artist, gardener and caregiver.
She is survived by her son, Dwain Dewey (Mary), her son Bill Dewey (Carolyn) and her daughter Carol McCall (Billy). Also surviving are six grandchildren; Connie Smith (Steve), Nancy DeLaval, Debbie Summers (Mike), Rob Dewey (Cindere), Kimberley Wahaus (Rick), Pamela Sandler (Todd); as well as ten great grandchildren and numerous great, great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Robert Dewey and her daughter, Charlotte Holloway and one great grandchild. A visitation will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday March 13th at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS. 66210, with a funeral service immediately following.
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