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Mary June Terwort, 95, passed away June 19, 2020, at Kiowa District Manor in Kiowa, Kansas. She was born September 2, 1924, in Walsenburg, Colorado, the daughter of Ralph and Mary Ellen (Hunter) Griffith. She graduated from Kiowa High School in 1942 and attended Emporia State College taking an accelerated business course that was offered to girls for one year. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and was in band while in college. She had to return home after one year to help her mother in the Southwest Hatchery business.
June met William J. Terwort at Brattin's Sweet Shop in Kiowa, Kansas, when Bill was home on leave from the Army Air Force and asked her to dance. They were united in marriage on May 4, 1946, in Alva, Oklahoma. They were blessed with seven children. Besides helping in the hatchery, June also worked at the Bank of Kiowa where she issued driver's licenses, wrote letters in shorthand for the president, and subbed as a cashier. After the closing of the hatchery, June opened June's Junque and Antique store. Following the closing of the antique store, June became Kiowa City Clerk. Upon retirement, Bill and June relocated to Tucson, Arizona. After Bill's death, June moved back home to Kiowa. She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and Altar Society.
June enjoyed crocheting rag rugs and going to garage sales. She and her four girls made trips together to sales in Enid, Oklahoma, several summers. This is probably why she enjoyed working at the Kiowa General Store since its inception. She was treasurer for the store for many years and finally retired recently due to her health. The kids remember their mother making egg sandwiches for hobos who got off the trains behind their house. It is where daughter Laurie lives now. June had the hobos wait in the garage or on the front porch but she made sure they didn't go away hungry. June was always a hard-working, charitable and kind-hearted woman. She made clothes for her children and taught the girls how to cook and clean; made sure all of the kids attended Mass every week; gave them a good work ethic; and taught them to be kind, honest and trust-worthy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, Dick; and a sister, Maxine.
She is survived by a sister, Joan Martin of Wichita, Kansas; her seven children, Carolyn (Don) Catlin-Robertson of Lakin, Kansas; Tom (Dewey) Terwort of Pratt, Kansas; Judy (Randy) Shafer of Pond Creek; Jim (Mary) Terwort of Buffalo; Laurie (Mike) Hiltner of Kiowa, Kansas; Kristi (Ron) Molz of Kiowa, Kansas; and John (Jamie) Terwort of Kiowa, Kansas; 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Family Rosary and Funeral Mass will be Thursday, June 25, 2020, at St. John's Catholic Church in Kiowa and burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home Inc. of Kiowa. The register book may be signed at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday. Online condolences may be made at http://www.lanmanmemorials.com.
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