Neoma Mayeske

Neoma Mayeske, 92, a rural Fredonia resident, passed away quietly Monday, Aug. 20, 2017, at the Moundridge Manor, where she had lived for almost seven years.

She was born Oct. 14, 1924, at Copeland to Carl and Minnie (Voth) Nightengale.

She married Richard Smith, who died D-Day, June 6, 1944.

On Dec. 8, 1945, she married Alva Mayeske at Independence. Early in their marriage they settled in the New Albany area and they lived their whole married life there.

Neoma was a homemaker and loved farming with her husband. She loved gardening, cooking and taking care of her large family. She enjoyed doing embroidery, birdwatching, flowers and fishing.

Survivors include her children, Dwight Mayeske of Fredonia, Allen Mayekse of Newton, Janet Giesbrecht of Glen, Calif., Linda Wedel of Durham, Kan., Stanley Mayeske of Fredonia, Barbara Schultz of Fredonia, Karl Mayeske of Lakin, Beverly Mayeske of Newton, Margaret Jantz of Burns, Danny Mayeske of Fredonia; her siblings, Vernon Nightengale of Delhi, Calif., Ivan Nightengale of Delhi, Calif., Susan Koehn of Livingston, Calif., Janie Hibdon of Turlock, Calif., Delbert Nightengale of Livingston, Calif., Bertha Kanaan of Turlock, Calif., Francis Koehn of Montezuma; 35 grandchildren, and 91 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband Alva Mayeske, she was preceded in death by her father, Carl Nightengale and her mother, Minnie Nightengale; two daughters, Katherine Schmidt and Lois Hochstetler; two great-grandchildren, Lamar Mayeske and Lauren Schultz; two sisters, Myrtle Koehn and Elvina Banks; three brothers, Irvin Nightengale, Eldin Nightengale and Dennis Nightengale.

Visitation will be Saturday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be Sunday, Aug. 27, at 10:30 a.m., both at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Fredonia. Burial will be at the Emmanuel Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Moundridge Manor and may be sent to the Wickham Family Funeral Home, 510 N. 7th, Fredonia, KS 66736.