Ethel Maria Baumgardner

Maria Baumgardner, age 102, of Elmdale, KS died Monday, August 27, 2018 at Holiday Resort in Emporia. The daughter of George E. and Ethel M.(Talkington) Baumgardner, Ethel Maria was born March 24, 1916 in Clements, KS. She graduated from Clements High School in 1934. She and Glenn Melford Baumgardner were married June 7, 1938 in Cottonwood Falls. Maria and "Bummie" were the owners and operators of Bummie’s Grocery Store in Elmdale from 1947 until his death on December 9, 1997. She continued to provide the Chase County community with fresh sandwiches, drinks, and conversation until she retired in November of 2013. For many years, Bummie’s Grocery was the "hub" for morning coffee and local gossip for area farmers, ranchers, and businessmen. Maria loved visiting with people and being in the "know." As Maria’s eyesight began to fail, local patrons were trusted to add up, pay for and make their own change for purchases. She always knew and told them how much sales tax to add. She enjoyed baking and down-home cooking for her family, knitting and crocheting. Maria’s Fruit Cake at Christmas time, her Coke Cakes and Swiss Steak were special family favorites. Sunday dinners, birthday celebrations, and holiday gatherings were times that Maria loved and treasured! She was a member of the Elmdale United Methodist Church and a lifetime member of the Falls Chapter #25 of the Order of Eastern Star. Maria is survived by her daughter-in-law, Connie Baumgardner of Cottonwood Falls; three grandchildren: Brett (Becky) Baumgardner, Wendy (Mark) Morris, and Wendy (Darren) Carter; eight great-grandsons; and one great-great grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Boyce Baumgardner; six brothers: Louis W., Carl O., Herbert E., Walter W., George Thomas, and Glenn E. Dawson; and one sister, Mary Edna (Dawson) Krueger. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, September 1 at 10:00 A.M. at the church in the Elmdale Cemetery. Burial will follow in the Elmdale Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorial contributions to the Chase County Senior Center or to Camp Wood YMCA may be sent to Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home, PO Box 220, Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845. Online condolence messages may be left at Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home on Facebook.

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