Elva Low

Elva Mae Low, 83, of Winchester, KS, passed away Friday, September 8, 2017 at the F.W. Huston Senior Center in Winchester surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Monday, September 11, 2017 at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in the Mooney Creek Community of Winchester. Burial will follow in the Nortonville Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Sunday, at the church with a parish rosary being recited at 7:00 PM. Memorial contributions are suggested to the FW Huston Medical Center, FW Huston Senior Living Center, Hospital Hannah’s, Nortonville First Responders, Winchester First Responders, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, or the Jefferson County Hospice. The O’Trimble Funeral Home in Nortonville is entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.beckerdyer.com. Elva Mae Spencer was born on November 4, 1933 in Horton, KS, the daughter of Albert M. and Frances M. (Schuetz) Spencer. Elva graduated from Nortonville High School and she began her work career as a telephone operator in Nortonville. Elva then worked at Thriftway in Atchison in the late 1960’s before going to work for Bell Telephone in Atchison around 1970 and continued to work for Bell Telephone in Kansas City and Topeka until 1985. Elva went to work for Hord Communications and was their store manager in Leavenworth until her retirement in 1998. During the 1970’s, Elva also sold Avon and Amway products. After retiring, Elva briefly drove the Senior Citizen bus; worked for the JCN School District as a substitute custodian; and she and her husband, John, cleaned the Mooney Creek Church for many years. Elva also had a job of cleaning the Easton Bank every Saturday morning. After a while, Elva hired an assistant (several different high school students) who would do the ‘heavy’ things so she could keep her job; as much for the money as for the social part of visiting with the employees and the camaraderie they shared. With great sadness Elva’s health forced her to retire in 2016. Elva has always been a staunch supporter of the F.W. Huston Medical Center and Dr. Huston. When Elva heard talk of the foundation board opening a hospital thrift store in Winchester, she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer and was instrumental in getting it opened. Elva was devoted to the thrift store “Hospital Hannah’s”. Wednesday was her day to ‘work’, but gladly filled in other days also. She took home items to clean, wash, repair, etc. – so they could be sold to make money for the hospital. Elva was always checking out other thrift stores to get new ideas for Hannah’s. Elva received an award in 2016 for volunteering 1700 hours. With great sadness her health forced her to stop volunteering in the fall of 2016. Elva was able to stay in the home that she and John worked so hard for until a series of health issues in September 2016. Elva then moved to the Jefferson Apartments in Winchester and in January 2017 to the FW Huston Senior Living Center after a diagnosis of stage four cancer. Throughout each move, Elva decided to make the best of it and made new friends and enjoyed new adventures. Many of Elva’s friends commented on her positive, upbeat attitude, sense of humor and love of life. Elva and John Low were married on August 14, 1951. Elva was preceded in death by her husband, John on June 8, 2005; her parents, Albert and Frances Spencer; and an infant sister, Alberta. Elva leaves behind a daughter, Tammy (David) Noll, Mooney Creek; son, J.R. (Diane) Low, Nortonville; five grandsons, Justin (Tiffany) Noll, Brandon (Laura) Noll, Alex (Traci) Noll, Austin (Emily) Low, and Aaron (Cheyenne) Low; two granddaughters, Ashley (fiancée, Bobby Gupta) Noll and Amber Low; fourteen great grandchildren; brother, Kenny (Janiece) Spencer, Hiawatha, KS; three nieces and numerous cousins.