Obituary for Greta DeFries (Brown)
Greta Gay DeFries, age 73, of Bonner Springs, Kansas passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, December 15th, 2020. Her family will receive friends at a visitation at the First Baptist Church of Basehor from 9:30 to 11:00 am followed by the Funeral at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 19th, 2020. Burial will follow in the Bonner Springs Cemetery.
Greta was born on October 18, 1947 in Kansas City, Kansas and was the youngest of two children born to Harold & Emma Mae Brown. She grew up in Bonner Springs where she attended Kindergarten through High School, graduating in the Class of 1965. In High School she met her loving husband, Jerry DeFries. They were married in 1967 and together they made their home in Bonner Springs. Greta attended Pittsburg State University and Kansas City Kansas Community College, obtaining her Associates Degree. She worked as a Dispatcher at Lanter Distributing in Lenexa, Kansas for over 30 years. Greta and Jerry attended Calvary Bible Church in Bonner Springs. She enjoyed working in her yard, tending to her flowers, and watching her favorite sports teams – KU Basketball, KC Royals and the KC Chiefs, but what she loved more than anything was watching her children and grandchildren in all of the sports they participated in. Greta loved spending time with Jerry and their children and grandchildren. It didn’t matter if it was cooking a large meal for a family get-together, attending one of their sports or traveling to the beach, Greta was sure to be there enjoying every second of it, “family was everything to her.”
Greta was preceded in death by her parents, her father-in-law Virgil DeFries, brother-in-law Virgil Dale DeFries and granddaughter Libby DeFries.
Survivors include her husband Jerry DeFries of the home. Their four children, all of whom never ventured far from home: Charla Collins (Scott Kendrick), Emily Peterson (Kevin “Bert”), Elizabeth Ressler (Jeremy), Andrew DeFries (Stacey). Eight Grandchildren: Cole, Darby, Adam & Nate Peterson, Maddox & Josie Ressler, Lincoln & Lucy DeFries. Her brother Charles “Chuck” Brown, nephew Aaron Brown (Dana) of St. Louis, MO., and great-nephew Alex Brown. Her mother-in-law Helen DeFries, as well as several extended family and friends.
The service will also be streamed on Facebook Live from the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AldenHarringtonFH/
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to JDRF “Team Maddox”.
https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation2?idb=1762397713&df_id=2374&mfc_pref=T&2374.donation=form1
(Type 1 Diabetes Research). JDRF Kansas and Missouri Chapter
215 W. Pershing Rd. Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64108
Greta was born on October 18, 1947 in Kansas City, Kansas and was the youngest of two children born to Harold & Emma Mae Brown. She grew up in Bonner Springs where she attended Kindergarten through High School, graduating in the Class of 1965. In High School she met her loving husband, Jerry DeFries. They were married in 1967 and together they made their home in Bonner Springs. Greta attended Pittsburg State University and Kansas City Kansas Community College, obtaining her Associates Degree. She worked as a Dispatcher at Lanter Distributing in Lenexa, Kansas for over 30 years. Greta and Jerry attended Calvary Bible Church in Bonner Springs. She enjoyed working in her yard, tending to her flowers, and watching her favorite sports teams – KU Basketball, KC Royals and the KC Chiefs, but what she loved more than anything was watching her children and grandchildren in all of the sports they participated in. Greta loved spending time with Jerry and their children and grandchildren. It didn’t matter if it was cooking a large meal for a family get-together, attending one of their sports or traveling to the beach, Greta was sure to be there enjoying every second of it, “family was everything to her.”
Greta was preceded in death by her parents, her father-in-law Virgil DeFries, brother-in-law Virgil Dale DeFries and granddaughter Libby DeFries.
Survivors include her husband Jerry DeFries of the home. Their four children, all of whom never ventured far from home: Charla Collins (Scott Kendrick), Emily Peterson (Kevin “Bert”), Elizabeth Ressler (Jeremy), Andrew DeFries (Stacey). Eight Grandchildren: Cole, Darby, Adam & Nate Peterson, Maddox & Josie Ressler, Lincoln & Lucy DeFries. Her brother Charles “Chuck” Brown, nephew Aaron Brown (Dana) of St. Louis, MO., and great-nephew Alex Brown. Her mother-in-law Helen DeFries, as well as several extended family and friends.
The service will also be streamed on Facebook Live from the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AldenHarringtonFH/
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to JDRF “Team Maddox”.
https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation2?idb=1762397713&df_id=2374&mfc_pref=T&2374.donation=form1
(Type 1 Diabetes Research). JDRF Kansas and Missouri Chapter
215 W. Pershing Rd. Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64108