Gretchen Lavon Winters

Gretchen Lavon Winters, 100, of Frankfort, KS, died April 9, 2021 at the Frankfort Community Care Home. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 14, from 4-8 p.m. at Padden Funeral Chapel in Frankfort. The family will receive friends from 5-7. A private burial service will be held in the Frankfort Cemetery. Gretchen was born July 8, 1920 at Frankfort, KS, daughter of John Creighton and Alice Mahala (McFarland) Chidester. On May 30, 1942 she married Merrill Marvin Winters at her parents’ house in Frankfort. Gretchen worked for the U.S. Postal Service at Frankfort from January 1, 1943 until retiring on January 11, 1980. Gret was a spunky little lady that never looked or acted her age. She enjoyed the luxury of living at home on her own until the last month of her life when she suffered a fall that landed her in the hospital and care home for restorative care. Granny Gret, as she was lovingly called by her family, never missed an opportunity to watch a ball game or attend an activity of her grandchildren while they were growing up. She was not able to attend many events of her great grandchildren but always waited expectedly for the phone call after each event telling her how they did. She loved to shop and was one of things she missed the most when life started to confine her to home. No one had more fun “shopping till they dropped” than Gret and whoever happened to be with her on one of her shopping excursions. Playing bridge (or cards of most any kind) was her second passion. She spent hours and hours playing cards with her grandkids during their many stays at Granny Gret’s. There was a special group of ladies called the “Bridge Babes” that could tell you many a tale of Gret’s card playing antics. She was a member of Chapter EJ-PEO in Frankfort since 1962, American Legion Auxiliary from 1984 until 2018, was a founding member of Bridge Babes, past 50-year member of Eastern Star, and member of NARFE Chapter 1949. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merrill Marvin on October 21, 1976; and sister, Bea Chidester. Survivors include her son, John (Susan) Winters, Frankfort; four grandchildren, Creighton (Allison) Winters, Burlingame, KS, Emily (Tim) Gunn, Blue Rapids, Chelsea (Buck) Jackson, Frankfort, and Merritt (Chris) Butler, Marysville; and great grandchildren, Dakotah Sporing, Dalton Sporing, Daelyn Winters, Dane Winters, Maecyn Gunn, Khloe Gunn, Christian Jackson, Gunner Jackson, Ryder Jackson, Landry Butler and Knox Butler. A memorial fund has been established to the Frankfort EMS. Contributions may be sent in care of Padden Funeral Chapel. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gretchen Lavon Winters, please visit our flower store.