Esbon - Nola Bess Atwood, 88, passed away Monday, September 26, 2016 at Golden Living Center, Downs, KS.
She was born July 30, 1928 in a rock house built by her great grandpa in Lincoln township in Smith County, KS along the Buck Creek. Nola Bess is the daughter of Jay William and Mayme Margaret (Cunningham) Long. On March 5, 1950 she married Marion R. Atwood at Oak Creek Christian Church south of Lebanon, to this union they were blessed with five children, Judy, Duane, David, Roy and Max. She and Marion enjoyed over 63 years of marriage together until his death on February 5, 2014.
She attended Green Valley, Buck Creek and Lebanon High School graduating with the class of 1946.
She and Marion began their married life in eastern Smith County, moving from there in 1959 to the Dentonia area in western Jewell County where she was known as "Pancake "Grandma". Nola Bess kept very active in her community throughout her whole life and accepted the challenges that came her way in her many roles of which included that of an officer, board member or director for many organizations within the community and county. She served for more than 40 years as county fair board director, as department and overall superintendent and was inducted into the Kansas State Fair association Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2001 she was recognized as a 50 year active member of KAFCE. Nola Bess was a dedicated member of Oak Creek Christian Church, the North Central Kansas Genealogy Society, EHU-FCE, 4-H, Stuart Ladies Aid.
Nola Bess loved to sing, especially in the North Central Christian Choir. She enjoyed crocheting and quilting. She had made quilts for all her children and grandchildren. Nola Bess loved her children and especially her grandchildren. Nothing could put a bigger smile on her face than when she was holding a grandbaby or great grandbaby.
Nola Bess is survived by her daughter, Judy (Tom) McNulty of Lawrence; four sons, Duane Atwood of Lebanon, David (Jeri) Atwood of Lawrence, Roy (Rhonda) Atwood of Downs, Max (Melissa) Atwood of Littleton, CO; two brothers, Bill (Dorothy) Long of Smith Center, John (Michelle) Long of Belvue; two brothers-in-law, Walter Atwood of Jacksonville, FL, Jack Palmer of North Carolina; six sisters-in-law, Audrey Atwood of Lebanon, Ann Wales of Smith Center, Marlene Long of Downs, Sharlyn Long of Lebanon, Floy Lammey of Pratt, Ethel Fitzpatrick of Newton; 11 grandchildren, Katie (John) Peterson, Michael (Rachel) McNulty, Justin (Sara Steenson) Atwood, Wendy (Wes) Woerner, T.J. (Judy) Atwood, Charlie Atwood, Kale Atwood, Michaela Simmelink, Jeremy Simmelink, Brandon Atwood, Greg Atwood; 10 great grandchildren, Tim Atwood, Grant Atwood, Eric Peterson, Anna Peterson, Dahlton Logemann, Wren Woerner, Wheaton Woerner, Winston Woerner, Kadon Woerner, Colin Woerner and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Marion, brothers, Bob and Warren Long, brothers-in-law, Dean, Raymond and Ted Atwood, Earl Fitzpatrick and Cedric Lammey, sisters-in-law, Edith Palmer, Betty and Donna Atwood.
A celebration of Nola Bess's life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 1, 2016 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Dave Hardy officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 30th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 1st from 8:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in the Odessa Cemetery, rural Jewell County, KS. Memorials may be given to the Nola Bess Atwood Memorial Fund in care of the funeral chapel.