Onita Fern (Steen) Little, 97, formerly of Hays, Kansas, passed away November 11, 2014, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka, Kansas. She moved to Topeka in 2013 to live with family.

She was born August 20, 1917 in Wichita, Kansas to Luther and Josephine (Stover) Steen. She grew up in Baldwin City, Dodge City, and Maize, and attended Friends University and taught in a one room schoolhouse near Wichita. She dated and fell in love with Francis Thomas (Tom) Little and they were married March 1, 1942 in Parsons, Kansas. Tom passed away on April 22, 1974. She worked at Travenol and Area Agency on Aging in Hays, retiring in 1982. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hays.

Onita found joy in family and music and peace in prayer. Her family loved hearing her remarkable talent on the piano.

Surviving family includes three sons, David (Barbara) Little, Camdenton, Missouri, Robert (Carolyn) Little, Topeka, Kansas, and Steven (Kathy) Little, Hays, Kansas, seven grandchildren, David (Connie) Little, Michael (Heather) Little, Corey (Courtney) Little, Liza (Michael) Sorrels, Jennifer (Eric) Armstrong, Shanann (Matt) Peterson, Sheryl (Kelly) Rippel, and six great grandchildren, Amanda Little, Joshua Little, Jacob Little, Blake Hall, Brynn Hall, and Braydin Little.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a sister Maurita (Dorman) and a brother Eldon.

Graveside services will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 14, 2014 at the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery, west of Hays, where interment will be beside her beloved husband Tom. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 12:45 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Music Ministry of the First United Methodist Church, Hays, Kansas or the Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kansas, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.