Julia Katherine Davenport Zeller, 95, died Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at the LTC of the Rush County Memorial Hospital. She was born December 18, 1920 in rural McCracken to Herbert and Ida (Darkes) Davenport.
She was a 1938 graduate of McCracken High School and received her two-year teaching certificate from Fort Hays University. She taught two years in a one room township school. She later decided to move to Kansas City, MO to work at the North American Aviation Plant building B25’s at the Fairfax Industrial District.
She married Francis Zeller in Kansas City, MO on February 1, 1944 after a four-year courtship. They moved to Eagle Pass, Texas where Francis was stationed in the Air Force. After he was discharged from the service, they made their home on a farm by Brownell, KS for two years. They moved to Northwest McCracken on a farm for 8 years before moving to town in McCracken. While they made their living farming, Francis drove a mail route and Julia was a homemaker.
Francis and Julia became interested in square dancing. Francis became a caller and they both taught lessons. They traveled all over the United States and Europe while Francis called dances. Julia enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, cats and most of all, Francis.
Survivors include two sons, William and John and wife Melanie, McCracken; grandchildren, Dan Zeller, McCracken, William and wife Jana, LaCrosse, Sarah Emerson and husband Kiel, Hays, Rachel Legleiter and husband Lance, Olathe, KS; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Abigail Zeller, Amelia Emerson, Haydn, Tessa, and Lexi Legleiter.
Julia was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her son Martin Zeller.
Funeral service will be on Monday, October 17, 2016, 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Heritage Church, McCracken. Rosary will be at the church on Sunday, October 16, 7:00 p.m. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 5:30 p.m. until service time.
Memorial contributions may be given to the McCracken Library.