Marvelyin Durkes Gress

Marvelyin Durkes Gress, 89, of Axtell, Kan., died Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca.Visitation was held Monday, March 19, from noon until 5 p.m. at the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home in Axtell.A rosary service was held at 7 p.m., Monday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Axtell.Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 20, at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Father Gova Narisetty officiated. Stephanie Greene gave the tribute and Kathy Buessing was the organist. Music included “How Great Thou Art”, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Be Not Afraid”.The pallbearers were Joel Lauer, Brandon Durkes, Brandon Bremer, Dawson Durkes, Marcus Greeneand Douglas Akin.The honorary pallbearer was Blake Bremer.Burial was in Rosehill Cemetery.Marvelyin was born to Morson and Marie (Montague) Akin on March 12, 1929 on the farm outside of Summerfield. She attended Summerfield High School.In August of 1946, she married Claude Durkes and two children were born of this union, Nancy and Harold.  Claude preceded her in death on March 26, 1988. Marvelyin married Francis Gress in August of 1994. He preceded her in death July 31, 2014.Marvelyin was a cook for the Axtell School District for over 25 years. She loved learning new recipes and seeing the students. She loved hosting family events, sewing, quilting and walking. She and Francis wintered in Texas and made many friends. Marvelyin would organize reunions for the winter Texans, meeting in Axtell every August for several days to play cards, visit and eat out.She was a member of St. Michaels Catholic Church and served as President of Axtell Senior Citizens for many years.Preceding her in death were her parents; two husbands, Claude Durkes and Francis Gress; and brothers, Oscar, Phillip, Charles and Glenn Akin.Surviving her are children, Nancy (Jim) Lauer, Olathe, Kan., and Harold (Marcia) Durkes, Topeka, Kan.; brother, Martin Akin, Axtell; and four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.A memorial fund is established to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. Contributions may be sent in care of the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marvelyin Durkes Gress, please visit our flower store.