Diana Gaylene (Irby) Stagner, 69, Bogue, Kansas, passed away in her home, August 20, 2019. Gaylene, as she was called, was born May 9, 1950 in Hays, Kansas to Harold and Lenor (Manny) Irby. She grew up and attended schools in Bogue, surrounded by her eight siblings: Iona, Norma, Roger, Ronald, Randy, Leroy, Kevin and Luana.
In 1968, following graduation from Bogue High School, she attended college at Salt City Business College, Hutchinson, to complete a degree in bookkeeping and accounting. These business skills provided employment at Windom Grain Elevator, Johns Manville in McPherson, St. Francis Boys’ Home in Salina, Anderson Drilling in Hill City, and Graham County; also working for a time as a nurses’ aid at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home in Little River. Gaylene moved back to her hometown in 2007 and purchased a house across the street from her mother and father.
Although she had no children of her own, she loved and raised the kids and grandkids from a previous marriage. Later, her dogs became “her kids” and she loved them dearly. First there was Fancy, followed by Cindy and finally her Mandy. They were her constant companions and she would talk to them as if they were her kids and they appeared to understand every word. In fact, Mandy would even “talk” back to her and Gaylene seemed to understand her too.
Gaylene had a special relationship with the Lord; loved Christian music and had an extensive collection of that genre.
On many days, one could find her fishing at local ponds. She was always ready and willing to fish with anyone who wanted to go. She had a wonderful sense of humor; even when the joke was on her. She was often teased about losing her false teeth while opening a gate at a local fishing hole!
She was always ready to play cards, especially Pinochle, even if it was online. There were a varying variety of things that Gaylene loved to do and do very well. She was famous for her chicken fried steak, loved canning peaches and corn, raised sheep and even sheered them herself. However, in her later years she was plagued with many health problems.
She was preceded in death by her father Harold and one sister, Luana Croomes.
Leaving to mourn her passing are: her mother Lenor, Salina; sisters: Iona (Bob) DeLaney, Salina, Jeannie Taylor (Fred), Aurora, Colorado; brothers: Roger (Martha) Irby, Aurora, Colorado, Ronald (Marcia) Irby, Gainesville, Florida, Randy (Susan) Irby, Queen Creek, Arizona, Allen Irby, Pflugerville, Texas, Kevin (Nancie) Irby, Goodyear, Arizona, many nephews, nieces, other relatives, friends and her faithful dog and buddy, Mandy.
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