ELEANOR ‘DOLLY’ McWAIN

Eleanor Marie “Dolly” McWain went to be with the Lord on Nov. 26, 2016 at the Village Hospice Home in Lee’s Summit, MO, in the presence of several family members. Dolly’s passing was a faith inspiring experience as a look of peace and serenity came over her face as she breathed her last breath on earth and went to be with Jesus.

Dolly was born on Feb. 17, 1933, in Fargo, NE. She was the youngest of nine children in the Nissen family. Dolly grew up in Fargo and nearby Rulo. Her family moved to Denver while Dolly was a teenager but she stayed behind and lived with her sister, Gladys, as she loved her friends and high school and living in Rulo.

There was a young man in Rulo named Ken McWain that Dolly grew up with. Ken had a crush on Dolly for years. He finally wore down her resistance with his outgoing personality and persistence and they began a 63-year love affair when they were married in Falls City on April the 4, 1953.

Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved to Kansas City, MO. One of Dolly’s favorite experiences to tell others occurred in Kansas City in the mid 1950’s while she was employed as an elevator operator in the Federal Reserve Bank building. Former President Harry Truman maintained an office in the building and Dolly would often take him up to his floor. She said President Truman was a very polite and friendly man.

Dolly and Ken resided in Kansas City and Independence, MO, until the late 1980s when Ken’s job took them to the Charlotte, NC area. Dolly loved the two houses they occupied in Concord, NC, a pretty, historical township near Charlotte. Dolly and Ken made many friends while living in Concord. In 1991, they moved back to the Kansas City area and built a house in Lee’s Summit. Dolly loved her new home and spent many happy hours decorating it and working with plants and flowers. She loved to relax on the back porch and read books.

Dolly spent the last year and half of her life on earth in the John Knox long term care facility in Lee’s Summit where she made friends with many employees. It was touching and comforting to the family when several of these employees stopped by after Dolly’s passing and commented on how much they loved assisting her. People often felt that way about Dolly as she was a kind and sweet person.

Dolly was saved on Sunday morning, Nov. 29, 1959 at the Amazing Grace Baptist Tabernacle. She described the experience as “a wonderful day for me, as Ken was saved also, praise God.” Dolly was a devout Christian woman with a strong but gentle faith. She and her family attended Southwood Nazarene Church in Kansas City, MO, for several years. Dolly was actively involved in the work of the church at Southwood and one of the many tasks she performed there was serving as church treasurer.

Later in her life, she and Kenneth attended First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit.

Dolly enjoyed many things in life including home decorating and collecting Moss Rose China and Madame Alexander Dolls. She also enjoyed spending time with her two children, six grandchildren and her great granddaughter and they very much appreciated the candy and cards and other gifts she gave them. Christmas was a special time for Dolly and she loved decorating the tree and her home with festive holiday ornaments and lights. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and often accompanied him on business trips. While traveling and on vacations, Dolly loved shopping in antique and collectables stores looking for her “treasures” to decorate her home with. Dolly also enjoyed visiting the Nelson Atkins are Gallery in Kansas City and Powell Gardens near Lee’s Summit.

Dolly was interested in the history of the Richardson County, where she grew up. She enjoyed researching and reading about that area of Southeast Nebraska and collected several articles about its history. One of her favorite books was the “The History of Richardson County”. The town of Fargo, where Dolly was born, ceased to exist many years ago, but Dolly still enjoyed driving around the area and looking for pieces of its past. For many years after leaving the area, Dolly subscribed to the Falls City Journal, a newspaper that covered current and historical events of the area she grew up in.

Dolly’s greatest interests were always related to her family. Her kind disposition and strong faith helped guide the lives of her two cherished children, Gary and Brenda, and later, the lives of her cherished grandchildren, Katherine and Collin McWain and Blake, Kirk, Gage and Troy Fletcher. Dolly is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 63 years, Kenneth L. McWain; son, Gary (Lisa); daughter, Brenda (Dave) Fletcher; beloved grandchildren, Katherine and Collin McWain, Blake (Brittany), Kirk (Natasha), Gage and Troy (Crystal) Fletcher; and great granddaughter, Cora Fletcher.