Obituary of Mary Alice Knewtson

Rev. Mary Alice Knewtson, 79, of Edna, KS, passed away Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, OK.

She was born on April 18, 1938, at Ottawa, KS to Willis and Dorothy (Freeman) Jordan. When Mary Alice was young her family moved to Altamont, KS where she grew up and attended school, graduating from Labette County High School. She then attended Kansas State University where she graduated with honors and a duel Bachelor of Science degree in Teaching and Extension from the School of Home Economics.

On August 23, 1959, she married Harold Dean Knewtson at the Altamont United Methodist Church in Altamont, KS. Following their marriage they lived in Manhattan, KS while they completed their last year of college. After graduating they lived in Oxford, KS and Columbus, KS where Dean was Vocational Agriculture teacher. After teaching at Columbus Dean left teaching and attended seminary to become a United Methodist Minister. After Dean's ordination, they served congregations at Cummings and Camp Creek, KS, Warden and Clearfield, KS, Lyndon, Caney, Tyro, Havana and Niotaze United Methodist Churches, Otterbein United Methodist Church in Topeka, Edna and Bartlett until retiring. During this time Mary Alice attended St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City where she completed studies and was ordained a United Methodist Minister; she served as Associate Minister at East Cross United Methodist Church in Bartlesville, OK, Pastor at Auburn United Methodist Church in Auburn, KS, Angola and Valeda United Methodist Churches, Associate Minister at First United Methodist Church in Coffeyville, Pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Coffeyville and St. Paul United Methodist Church in Chetopa until retiring. Ministry was always a family affair for Mary Alice. For 36 consecutive years she participated in youth mission Bible Schools in Shiprock, New Mexico; Ashville, North Carolina; Dulac, Louisiana; Spirit Lake, North Dakota; La Gonave, Haiti; two locations in Missouri, and one in Oklahoma. Her work varied from lead cook to music leader, to art and craft director.

She was a Retired Member of Great Plains United Methodists Conference, the United Methodist Women, serving once as District President; Kappa Phi at Kansas State University; Royal Neighbors of America; Bishop's Round-Up Committee; Better Edna Area Relations and Support (BEARS); Edna Community Organization (ECO's) and the Kansas Farm Bureau. Mary Alice enjoyed collecting coins, plates, playing the piano and singing, but her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family and their church family.

Survivors include her husband, Dean of the home; three sons, Michael Knewtson and wife Silma Schaeffer-Marquis of Katy, TX; Mark Knewtson and wife Veronica of Venetia, PA; Matthew Knewtson and wife Stephanie of Kalamazoo, MI; one brother, David Jordan and wife Evelyn of Overland Park, KS; two sisters, Ardis Atkins and husband Ray of Inman, KS, and Jean Stevens of Claremore, OK; and ten grandchildren, Mary Ellen Kilpatrick, Molly Knewtson, Gabriel Schaeffer-Franco, Robert Knewtson, Eric Knewtson, Scott Knewtson, David Knewtson, Kevin Knewtson, Brian Knewtson, and Josiah Knewtson.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at the Edna United Methodist Church in Edna, KS. Burial will follow in the North Edna Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Edna U.M.C. or to your church or favorite mission and can be left at the funeral home or mailed in c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 N. Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.

Friends may call on Monday, August 21, 2017 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family will receive friends on Monday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Edna United Methodist Church.