Genette Elaine (Nelson) Keas, of Plainville, KS, passed away on February 3, 2024, at the Rooks County Health Center after a brief illness, at the age of 92. She was born on May 29, 1931, the third daughter of Merle and Ethel (Lamb) Nelson in Codell, Kansas.
Genette grew up in the Codell community where she worked in her family’s grocery store, pumped gas for customers, and roller skated many miles up and down the sidewalk. She was a good student and graduated from Codell High School in 1949. She never lost her love of reading and always encouraged her family to read with frequent trips to the library. Genette married Glenn “Buck” Keas on September 14, 1949. They settled on a farm in the Twin Mounds area of Rooks County and raised their four children there.
Genette was an active member of the community and enjoyed participating in various clubs and organizations, including the Stitch and Chatter Club, EHU, and Farm Bureau. She served as a 4-H leader and taught Sunday School for many years. She was part of the same quilting group at Codell Baptist Church where her mother and grandmother had quilted. In later years, Genette was a member of First Christian Church of Plainville where she volunteered in many capacities. Genette baked countless cookies, cakes, pies, and kolaches as well as other treats. She once baked her way through an entire cookbook of bread recipes, much to her family’s approval. She brought home many Grand Champion awards from the Rooks County Fair where she volunteered for over forty years. In 2018 Genette was honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Auxiliary of Rooks County Health Center. Throughout her life Genette enjoyed playing cards and games. She worked crossword puzzles for many years and had a dog-eared crossword dictionary to prove it. Genette moved to assisted living in 2018 but that did not stop her participation in church activities or her knitting group. She continued to be helpful to those living around her.
Genette was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Glenn Keas; sisters Geraldine Davenport, Genevieve Zeigler, and Gwendolyn Nelson; an infant brother; and son-in-law, Byron Beal.
She is survived by her children Margena Worley (Allen) of Chesterfield, VA, Dena Pederson (Gary) of McPherson, KS, Douglas Keas (Stacey) of Plainville, KS, and Matthew Keas (Pat) of Plainville, KS; sisters-in-law, Karen Preston and Gena Lee Keas; 13 treasured grandchildren: Jessica and Jason Knowles, Josh and Kate Beal, Rachel and Richard Bowles, Katie and Jason Snook, Aaron and Alisha Worley, Kara and Joe Bush, Shanna and Neil Stewart, Katie and Luke Beeler, Seth and Catherine Keas, Jared Keas, Amy and Jesse Arbogast, Nikki and Jonathan Berkley, and Dustin and Ashley Keas; 33 great-grandchildren whom she welcomed each with an afghan she had crocheted; and many nieces and nephews.
Genette lived a good life surrounded by people who loved her.
A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 10:30AM at the First Christian Church in Plainville. Visitation will be Thursday, 2-7PM with the family receiving friends 4-6PM at the funeral home in Plainville.
Memorials are suggested to the Plainville Memorial Library or Rooks County Free Fair and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, KS 67663.