Mary Ellen Jenkins, Plattsburg, MO, was born on December 30, 1915 and passed away March 7, 2018 in Plattsburg, MO. The Memorial Service will be Saturday, March 17, 2018 with visitation starting at 11:00 A.M. and services at 1:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsburg, MO. Burial in Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will greet guests for two hours prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the P.E.O. 3700 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50312. Mary Ellen or "Granny" was born in Plattsburg, Mo and grew up on a farm with her sisters, Jean Doak and Betty T. Dedman. She was the eldest daughter. Mary Ellen was the kid who actually walked or rode her pony over a mile to Country School. She graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1933 and attended William Woods College in Fulton for one year and William Jewell for a year. Mary Ellen's first job was teaching in the Jones Rural School.
Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents Trice and Goldie Dedman, husband H. W. Jenkins II, sisters Jean Doak and Betty T. Dedman, sons H.W. Jenkins III and Carl Trice Jenkins and great granddaughter, Harper Kay Rodden. She is survived by her sons Gary Jenkins (Janice), Stuart Jenkins (Rae) and daughter-in-law Mary Kay Jenkins, ten grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and nephews John Doak, Thomas Doak, David Doak, cousin Robert Dedman and family.
Mary Ellen married the only love of her life, H. W. Jenkins on August 5, 1939. Following in the steps of her ancestors, she became the wife of a farmer living on a farm. Surviving the Great Depression followed by WW II, she and H.W. worked long hours on the farm and started raising four boys. Tragedy struck in 1956 when H. W. was taken by a heart attack. Undaunted, Mary Ellen took over the management of the farming operation refusing well-meaning advice to sell out. She hired, fired and had several farm hands quit over the next few years. In 1961 her eldest, Carl Trice, returned from college and began taking over the farm business. With that, Mary Ellen enrolled in William Jewell and completed her teaching degree in 1968. She spent the next seventeen years as the kindergarten teacher at Raven Wood school in Kansas City North School district.
Probably the best story to epitomize the character of Mary Ellen "Granny" Dedman Jenkins would be the time she missed the Doodlebug passenger train at Scearce's Switch. She often used this train to get into town for high school. She trudged the ½ mile back home and her mother said, "Well you better get going, you have a way to walk." Mom often told how she walked the five miles along the tracks and arrived at school just as the first bell rang.
Arrangements Bailey & Cox Family Funeral Service Plattsburg Missouri. Online guest book and obituary at www.baileycox.com