Ida Lara, beloved mother, grandmother and friend, passed away in her home after a wonderful evening with her entire family. She died on September 3rd and waged a brave and dignified battle against Alzheimer’s. Ida was born on January 14, 1932, in Logan New Mexico, to Alfonzo Flores and Genevieve Uliberri. She was the oldest of 11 children in a strong and fun loving family. She left school at age 16 to help provide for her siblings and will tell you she was blessed to work for Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator at such a young age. She met her “one and only” Joseph, at a Liberal Redskins vs. Dodge City Demon basketball game, and at age 20, became his wife. They settled in Liberal, Kansas. Ida Mae, as she was known by her friends and family, retired from Southwestern Bell at age 48. Not one to be idle, she continued to work and make friends at Panhandle Eastern Pipeline in Liberal and retired from there at age 53. She and Joe moved to Wichita in 1985 where she began her third career at Dillard’s and retired from there at age 60. She and Joe did everything together. They loved dancing, travel, camping, volunteering and spending time with their big family. Ida was active in her church and twice served as the State Regent for the Daughters of Isabella. Together, they had four children: Anita Lara, Christina Lara and Cecelia (Mick) Cayless of Wichita, and Jeffrey (Mickie) Lara of Gilbert, Arizona. Her nephew Larry (Pam) Lara from Andover, was loved as her son. Grandchildren include Andrea Lara, Jeremy (Setiva) Lyda-Lara, Trinity Lara, and Lauren, Jeffrey and Genevieve Cayless, all of Wichita, Jessica (Tim) Bell from Hereford, TX, and Jackson Lara from Gilbert Arizona. She had 7 great-grandchildren and was blessed to live a fifth generation with her great, great granddaughter, whom shared her name. She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, her parents, her infant grandson, Jordan Jeffrey Lara, and her siblings Alfonzo Flores, Jr., Emily Marie McNabb, Alfred Flores and, as she called him, "my" Jody Flores. Ida’s love for her family was deep and wide, second only to her love and devotion to her Catholic faith. She will be forever missed by the many people touched by her kindness and eternal optimism. Rosary is Friday, September 6th at 7pm and funeral mass on Saturday, September 7th at 10am, both at Church of the Resurrection, 4910 N. Woodlawn, Bel Aire, KS 67220. In lieu of flowers, please honor her memory with a gift to Daughters of Isabella, which was so important in her life, and Good Shepherd Hospice, which was instrumental in providing comfort and dignity in her final days.