Vera "Jean" McConnell, 97, of Topeka, KS formerly of Valley Falls, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2023 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. She was an avid quilter, organ player, singer, square dancer, Valley Falls United Methodist Church Member and PEO Chapter DK, Valley Falls Member. Jean is survived by children: Karen McConnell (daughter-in-law), Lecompton, Kansas; Royce (Grace) of Irasburg, Vermont; Alcinda (Ed) of Lecompton, Kansas; and Alisa (Larry) of Topeka, Kansas. Her oldest son, Richard proceeded her in death on August 6, 2018. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

A native of Eagleville, Missouri (born April 28, 1925), Jean graduated from Eagleville High School in 1943. She and her best friend, Jodean, found jobs in Kansas City after graduation at the Quarter Master Depot for two years during WWII, while the men were at war. Jean met Dean McConnell while visiting her Grandparents in Van Wert, Iowa. He asked her to wait for him to marry after WWII and she did. They married December 22, 1945 in Sacramento, California. After fifty-four years of marriage, Dean passed away on July 19, 1999. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Nettie Cisco; sister, Twyla Gunn and two brothers and spouses, Rex (Blondine) and Gerald (Judy) Cisco.

Jean had also worked as a Dental Assistant for Dr. Fred Tillery, Valley Falls; she was a Secretary at Finley Title, Oskaloosa; a bookkeeper for Kendall State Bank, Valley Falls and she sold Home Interiors for many years. She was proud of her employment during her lifetime.

Jean spent seventeen years in Vandalia Missouri with her companion, Bill Doak. She was a member of PEO Chapter CE Vandalia. MO. There she learned to love sheep and helped raise many litters of kittens.

Jean returned to Topeka, Kansas from Missouri when she was ninety-one. For the first two and a half years she lived at Atria Hearthstone in Topeka, Kansas. She then lived with her daughter, Lisa and family for three years with the help from Larry, Allison and Marci Ramage, Midland Nurse. We all grew to love Marci for the wonderful care she gave our Mother. Jean moved back to Atria a year before her passing due to her health. She just missed her 98th birthday by a month and a half, which she was looking forward to. She was strong in mind and spirit all the way until the end.

Memorial Graveside Service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023 at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Valley Falls Fire Dept. or Valley Falls Library c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Valley Falls, KS. 66088.