Beverly J. (Fenton) Vathauer

Beverly Vathauer, age 85, of Ottawa, KS, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Vintage Park Assisted Living in Ottawa.

Beverly was born February 22, 1938 in Ottawa, to Adam R. “Ray” and Neoma (Campbell) Fenton.  Beverly lived most of her life in Ottawa, having lived in Richmond, KS for a few years, with extended family living in the Overbrook, Appanoose, Centropolis, Emporia and Ottawa, KS areas.  She attended Lincoln Elementary, Ottawa Junior High School and Ottawa Senior High School, graduating with the class of 1956.  On November 22, 1959, she was married to Larry MacArthur in Ottawa. To this union, one daughter, Joyce, was born. They later divorced.  On December 31, 1970, she was united in marriage to Gary Vathauer in Ottawa.  They were married for 51 years until Gary’s death.

Beverly was a former member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, where she was active as a children’s Sunday school teacher, in the group “Westminster Presbyterian Women”, and sang in the choir.  She attended Ottawa First Assembly of God, where she was active in the choir, the ladies group, and taught children’s Sunday school. She was baptized there on August 1, 1987. She also attended Community Revival Center Church in Ottawa. Later, she and Gary once again attended Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The medical field held a very special and prominent place in Beverly’s life-span for over 25 years! First, working as a Nurse’s Aide during High School, onto the position of Business Office Clerk, then Medical Records Supervisor at Ransom Memorial Hospital. In later years, she held the position of Medical Records Transcriptionist for the Ottawa Medical Clinic and also Franklin County Mental Health. In between, she was a Legal Secretary for Anderson, Byrd & Richeson, Attorneys at Law; a church secretary at First Christian Church and for the Kansas East Conference United Methodist Church District Superintendent; Clerk at Cross Reference/Cornerstone Christian Book Store; and baked cookies at Main Street Bakery, all in Ottawa, KS.

She was a member of the Ottawa Women’s Bowling Association; Women’s International Bowling Association; Past President of Ottawa Medical Assistants; Business and Professional Women’s Association; and Ottawa Women’s Aglow Fellowship.  Beverly had many areas of interest: bowling; jigsaw puzzles; knitting; crafts; researching genealogy; working in her flowerbeds; playing cards and board games; attending musical productions and concerts; playing the piano; and traveling on bus tours. She and Gary traveled to all 50 United Sates and to numerous Canadian Provinces.

Beverly was a 36-year colon cancer survivor, having only initial surgery and no follow-up treatments.

Beverly is preceded in death by her husband, Gary; parents, Ray and Neoma Fenton; Grandparents, Leonard and Mary Fenton & William and Anna Campbell; and close cocker spaniel companion, Webster.  She is survived by her Daughter, Joyce (George) Records of Vernon, TX (formerly of Ottawa); Granddaughters Kaitlyn (Tyler) Nitcher of Pomona, KS, and Ashley (Brandon) Sands of Ottawa, KS; and two Sisters-in-Law, Kathie (Ronnie) Otney of Marysville, KS, and Lynette (Mel) Pralley of Greenleaf, KS.  She also leaves behind numerous life time friends and newer friends at Vintage Park. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 5th, from 6-8 p.m. with services held Thursday, April 6th at 11 a.m. both at the Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, 325 S. Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067.  A memorial service will be held Friday morning at 10 a.m., April 7th at Vintage Park Assisted Living, 2250 S. Elm, Ottawa, KS 66067.  The family requests memorial donations be made to Franklin County Cancer Society; Ransom Memorial Hospital Auxiliary; Prairie Paws Animal Shelter; or to the charity of their choice and may be sent in c/o the Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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