In Memory Of
Kathryn Marie Houser
Kathryn Marie Houser
Kathryn Marie Houser, 87, Topeka, died Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at Midland Hospice House.
She was born April 11, 1918 in Sawyer, Kansas, the daughter of Wilbur F. and Maude Roots Gillett. She graduated from Coats High School in 1936 and from Emporia State Teachers College in 1940 with a bachelor's degree in speech and english. She taught high school in Lebo and Miltonvale, Kansas.
Mrs. Houser joined her husband in San Antonio, Texas, where he was stationed during WW2. While there she worked for civil service as a job analyst, traveling three states writing job descriptions and evaluating positions. In 1946 her husband established the Mize, Houser & Company accounting firm in Topeka. She worked there in various positions including office manager. She retired in 1983.
In Topeka, Mrs. Houser was active in many local, county, and state organizations. She was founder and president or chairwoman of the following organizations: Topeka Chamber of Commerce Women's Division; Topekans Against Crime; Victims of Rape Program; Shoplifters Diversionary Program; Board for Crime Research; and Take a Cop to Dinner Program.
She has served on the following boards and commissions: Mayor's Committee on Drug Prevention; Secretary of Corrections Committee to Promote Sale of Prisoner Products; Governor's Committee on Distribution of Federal Crime Prevention Funds; Shawnee County Community Corrections Board; Topeka Cosmopolitan Club; CrimeStoppers; Attorney General's Committee on the Prevention of Crime and Violence under both Attorney General Stephen and Stovall; Every Women's Resource Center; Florence Crittenton Services, Inc.; Volunteer Center of Topeka; Jayhawk Area Council on Aging; Advisory Committee for YCAT; Ronald McDonald House; Topeka Tycoons Investment Club. She was active in Chapter GK of PEO Sisterhood. Mrs. Houser was also honored as the "Outstanding Woman of the Year" by two American Business Women's chapters. She was also a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a teacher, Deacon, and Elder.
She married Ralph Edwin Houser on March 15, 1941 in Clay Center. He died May 21, 1989.
Survivors include two daughters, Jill Marks, Topeka and Jan Brummell, Lawrence; a sister, Florence Cooper, Louisiana; four grandchildren, Todd Johnson, Angela Marks, Jamie Brummell, and Katie Turner; two great-grandchildren, Dakota and Lauren Johnson.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. Private interment will be in Mission Center Cemetery. Friends are welcome to visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church.
Mrs. Houser will lie in state from noon until 9:00 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. The casket will remain closed.
Memorial contributions may me made to Washburn University Athletics Department, 1700 SW College Ave. Topeka, 66621, or to Midland Hospice Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka 66606.
To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.
She was born April 11, 1918 in Sawyer, Kansas, the daughter of Wilbur F. and Maude Roots Gillett. She graduated from Coats High School in 1936 and from Emporia State Teachers College in 1940 with a bachelor's degree in speech and english. She taught high school in Lebo and Miltonvale, Kansas.
Mrs. Houser joined her husband in San Antonio, Texas, where he was stationed during WW2. While there she worked for civil service as a job analyst, traveling three states writing job descriptions and evaluating positions. In 1946 her husband established the Mize, Houser & Company accounting firm in Topeka. She worked there in various positions including office manager. She retired in 1983.
In Topeka, Mrs. Houser was active in many local, county, and state organizations. She was founder and president or chairwoman of the following organizations: Topeka Chamber of Commerce Women's Division; Topekans Against Crime; Victims of Rape Program; Shoplifters Diversionary Program; Board for Crime Research; and Take a Cop to Dinner Program.
She has served on the following boards and commissions: Mayor's Committee on Drug Prevention; Secretary of Corrections Committee to Promote Sale of Prisoner Products; Governor's Committee on Distribution of Federal Crime Prevention Funds; Shawnee County Community Corrections Board; Topeka Cosmopolitan Club; CrimeStoppers; Attorney General's Committee on the Prevention of Crime and Violence under both Attorney General Stephen and Stovall; Every Women's Resource Center; Florence Crittenton Services, Inc.; Volunteer Center of Topeka; Jayhawk Area Council on Aging; Advisory Committee for YCAT; Ronald McDonald House; Topeka Tycoons Investment Club. She was active in Chapter GK of PEO Sisterhood. Mrs. Houser was also honored as the "Outstanding Woman of the Year" by two American Business Women's chapters. She was also a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a teacher, Deacon, and Elder.
She married Ralph Edwin Houser on March 15, 1941 in Clay Center. He died May 21, 1989.
Survivors include two daughters, Jill Marks, Topeka and Jan Brummell, Lawrence; a sister, Florence Cooper, Louisiana; four grandchildren, Todd Johnson, Angela Marks, Jamie Brummell, and Katie Turner; two great-grandchildren, Dakota and Lauren Johnson.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. Private interment will be in Mission Center Cemetery. Friends are welcome to visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church.
Mrs. Houser will lie in state from noon until 9:00 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. The casket will remain closed.
Memorial contributions may me made to Washburn University Athletics Department, 1700 SW College Ave. Topeka, 66621, or to Midland Hospice Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka 66606.
To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathryn Marie Houser, please visit our flower store.
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