March 29, 2024

Mary Ida Papay, age 88, of Elkhart, Kansas died Sunday, March 12, 2017 , at Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City, Kansas. She was born August 15, 1928, in Richfield, Kansas, the daughter of Carl and Laura Florence (Latham) Vail.  

Mary Ida grew up in Richfield, Kansas and graduated from Richfield High School. She worked at Morton County Treasurer’s office for 20 years. She married Roy Calvin Papay on October 14, 1950, in Clayton, New Mexico. Mary Ida was a farm wife and helped her husband with the farming. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Elkhart and enjoyed spending time with her kids, grandkids and friends.

Survivors include her son, Ronnie Papay and wife Sharon of Fort Mohave, Arizona; daughters, Brenda Sanchez and husband Claude of Garden City, Kansas, Karen Martin and husband Ronnie of Lakeview, Arkansas; three grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. 

Mary Ida is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roy, in 2008; two brothers, Lyndell and Lloyd; three sisters, Eleanor, Evelyn, and Fern; and grandson, Jason Martin.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, March 18, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Elkhart, Kansas with Reverend Shella Choi officiating. Burial will follow at Elkhart Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, March 17, 2017, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. Memorial contributions may be given to the United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.