Glenda Kaye Paden

Kaye Paden passed peacefully on Grandparent’s Day, September 8, 2024, at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home in Little River, Kansas.

Glenda Kaye Mason was born April 19, 1939, at Dart Maternity Home in Smith Center, Kansas to Floyd Vern “Curly” and Letha Cleone (Luse) Mason.

Kaye attended the Smith Center Schools and graduated from Smith Center High School in 1957. She received her associates degree in general studies from Barton County Community College only after seeing to it that all three of her children had first received their Bachelor’s degrees.

She married Jerry Paden on August 20, 1961, and they shared 63 years of marriage. They lived and worked together in the communities of Smith Center, Emporia, Macksville, Sterling, LaCrosse, and St. John over the years. They lived in Little River the past four years. 

Kaye was a homemaker, operated a preschool for many years, worked for Fort Larned Unified School District in the curriculum director’s office for 15 years, and for the United States Postal Service for 31 years. She was a member of the Macksville Christian Church and served on the Stafford County Hospital Board. She was a Girl Scout Leader in LaCrosse and Sterling. 

Kaye is survived by her loving husband: Jerry, Little River; daughters: Janis Fair of Sterling and Jerlyn (Mike) Peak of Andover, son: Jon (Nikki) Paden of Little River, 10 grandchildren: Taylor and Ashtyn Fair, Cameron and Marissa Fair, Mikalyn, Jonathon, and Karly Peak, and Jacob, Sutton, and Mason Paden; 2 great-grandchildren: Lyla and Abiyah Fair, and their son by mutual “adoption”: Brian (Cindy) Martin of Texas; a sister: Lynda (Steve) Wangerin; a brother: Gayle (Rena) Mason; many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, and many other relatives and friends.

Cremation has occurred and a Celebration of Life will be held at the Macksville Christian Church at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, with Pastors Carey Haner and Jacob Russell officiating. Inurnment will follow in Farmington Cemetery, Macksville. Casual attire is encouraged. 

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the church on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, with family present.

In lieu of flowers, the family and Kaye suggest memorials to the Macksville Christian Church or to the donor’s local school district, in care of Minnis Chapel, Box 34, St. John, KS 67576.