Lillian Marie Velasquez

Lillian Marie Velasquez, 82, Berryton, KS, passed away Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at her home. She was born January 21, 1929, at Anthony, KS, the youngest of the six children born to Henry and Elizabeth (Schnell) Duwe, German immigrants.

She graduated from Anthony High School in 1946 and went on to attend Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, where she graduated in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in music education. During her career, she taught music in Kansas at Whitewater, Bluff City, St. George, Alta Vista, and for 20 years in the Shawnee Heights school district southeast of Topeka. She was an accomplished pianist and for years taught piano out of her home. She was a long-time member of Berryton United Methodist Church, Berryton, KS, where she was church pianist and choir director for over 15 years.

Lillian married Harold A. Velasquez on June 3, 1953 in Freeport, KS. He survives. Other survivors include their children; Jonathan (Terry) of Olathe; Brian (Laura) of Reading; Beth (Tom) McCray of Fayette, IA; Christian (Jenee`) of Midland, MI; eleven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a host of many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Allison Velasquez, on June 23, 2007, and by her three brothers and two sisters.

Lillian will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave, Topeka, KS. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Berryton United Methodist Church, 7010 SE Berryton Road, Berryton, KS. Interment will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the Freeport Cemetery in Freeport,Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berryton United Methodist Church music department and to Grace Hospice in care of Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave, Topeka, KS 66605.