Blansett Family Obituaries
Rank, Ethel Marie (nee Spencer)
Ethel Marie Spencer-Rank, 99, of Shawnee, Kan., formerly of Sedalia, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007.
She was born on Oct. 12, 1908, in Emmett, a daughter of Clark and Lucy Spencer. On September 19, 1931, she married Wright Thomas Rank, who preceded her in death.
She moved a short time later to Ash Grove with her family of five brothers and five sisters. She assumed her share of work in the Spencer Grocery Store, working for her father. She was also employed by Mason’s Drug Store and Chandler’s dress shop during the time she lived in Ash Grove, where she was also a member of the Christian Church.
The couple later moved to Springfield before moving to Sedalia in 1943. She was employed by the S.S. Kresge, Co., as a buyer and sales clerk. She was nominated as Employee of the Year for Sedalia during the time she was with the Kresge Company. She was later employed by the C.W. Flower department store in Sedalia as buyer and sales clerk in the children’s department. Before she retired, she assumed a position with Dora’s Fashion Store as a salesclerk.
She was a member of the First Methodist Church and later Epworth Methodist Church and New Hope Baptist church. She loved meeting people and the work career she pursued.
She retired in 1973 to spend more time at home and be with her family. She loved cooking, gardening, homemaking and the company of a wealth of good friends through the years.
She and her husband moved to Camdenton in 1984, due to her husband’s illness, to be closer to her family. She became an active member of the First Baptist Church in Camdenton, where she served as an assistant librarian and on various committees. She moved to Shawnee in 2003 to reside with her daughter.
Surviving are a daughter, Connie Kay Seelen, of Shawnee; eight grandchildren, Keith Blansett, Kevin Blansett, Kent Blansett, Mike Rank, Mark Rank, Melissa Huffman, Melinda Rustice and Bryan Rank; one step-grandson by marriage, David Seelen; and numerous great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her husband; a son, Tony Winston Rank; and a grandchild, Mitchell Rank.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Keith Blansett officiating. Burial will be in Highland Sacred Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral chapel.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Grace Hospice, in care of McLaughlin Funeral Chapel, 519 South Ohio, Sedalia, MO 65301.
Obituary taken from the Monday, December 31, 2007 edition of the Sedalia Democrat newspaper.
©2008 by Norman Blansett
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