Madlyne Nellie Hopkins

Madlyne N. Hopkins, 103, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, at New Mark Care Center, Kansas City, Mo. She was born June 16, 1912, in Horton, Mo., the fourth of nine children born to George S. and Martha Jane (Kimery) Robison. She was married to Adrian Jacob White on Feb. 29, 1928. To this union were born four children: Delores May Harris, Mary Lue Garver, AJ White Jr. and Connie Jo White.

Madlyne spent most of her life in rural Vernon County. In her earlier years she became a member of Rinehart Christian Church, a charter member of the Whitfield Extension Club and a long-time leader of the Whitfield 4-H Club. Entertainment in those early years consisted of playing pinochle and attending dances at area homes.

On Aug. 17, 1953, Madlyne married Duane Hopkins in Devon, Kan. She and Duane spent many happy years on their farm south of Metz, Mo., where she enjoyed gardening, canning and raising flowers. She always had enough flowers to share starts with friends and family. She would spend long days picking up pecans in the fall and during the winter she enjoyed sewing Barbie doll clothes for her granddaughter and neighborhood kids.

Duane passed away on May 3, 1985, and in 1986 Madlyne moved to Nevada, Mo. While living in Nevada, she focused her energy into sewing and her flowers. Her backyard garden was a neighborhood showpiece. In March of 1994, she moved to Kansas City to be closer to her children. At the age of 94 years, she sewed eight quilt tops. All of her grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and neighbors, have quilts to remember Madlyne by.

Madlyne gave her full energy and love to everything she did.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Rilla Buhr and Pearl Tucker; and brothers, Marshall Allen, who died as an infant, Joseph, Hiel, and Russell. Madlyne was also preceded in death by her daughters, Connie Jo White and Delores Harris, and her son, A.J. White Jr.; grandson, Lawrence Duane Garver; and great-grandson, Brett J. White.

Madlyne is survived by her brother, Richard Robison, of Myrtle Point, Ore.; sister, Elnora Wallace, of Walker, Mo.; daughter, Mary Lue Garver, of Kansas City; daughter-in-law, Patsy Buhr, of Adrian; grandchildren, Robert Stapleton and wife, Karen, Jeffrey Stapleton and wife, Chris, Penny Garver, Michelle Garver Brown and husband, Craig, Veronica Garver Knickerbocker and husband, Jeff, Leroy White and wife, Debbie, Mark White and wife, Kristen, and Scott White and wife, Charisse. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her family, many nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 4, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada, with Pastor Ricky Walles officiating. Interment will follow in Balltown Cemetery, Horton, Mo. The family received friends prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m., at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Horton United Methodist Church in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.