Arlene Gier, age 87, Valley Falls, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, at Midland Hospice Care, in Topeka. She was born Feb. 13, 1929, near Denison, the oldest daughter of Harold and Grace Ferrell Scarlett.

She graduated from Valley Falls High School, skipping a grade to graduate with her future, and most handsome, husband. She married Robert “Bob” Gier, Oct. 9, 1947, at Nortonville. She and Bob had six children. Gail Arlene died in infancy. The other children are Richard, Randel, Ryan, Jean and Marlin.

The best mom ever was also pretty handy at the sewing machine. Arlene was a seamstress sewing many letterman’s jackets, pep club uniforms, wedding and bridesmaids’ gowns, but her favorite was to make western-style shirts. She also was an avid quilter making many quilts and organizing quilt shows with her sisters. In addition to raising kids, Arlene raised a big garden when she lived on the farm and canned much of what was grown. She was a big KU basketball fan, even delaying the birth of one of the boys to listen to the end of the KU game. Before she and Bob married, Arlene taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Jefferson County. Years later she enjoyed substitute teaching at Valley Falls High School and said many times if she had started teaching at the high school level she would still be teaching.

After Bob passed away, Arlene moved to town. If you wanted to visit her, you’d better make an appointment. After suffering kidney failure several years ago, she had dialysis two times a week. She played cards with her sisters and friends on Wednesdays and volunteered at the Valley Falls United Methodist Church Clothes Closet on Thursdays. She also called herself the bag lady, making many hand-crafted purses and totes.

Family was very important to Arlene and even if you weren’t related by blood, and there are many in the area who are, chances are she considered you part of her family anyway.

She was a member of the Valley Falls United Methodist Church, North Cedar Club and Blue Mound Club.   

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob, in 2007; daughter-in-law, Marian Gier, this past April; grandson, Tom Gier, in 2003; granddaughter, Liyah Gier, in infancy; two brothers, DeVere and Everett Scarlett; two, sisters, Marilyn Kesinger and Jane Etzel.

Survivors include Richard (Sue) Gier, Dodge City; Randel Gier, Holton; Ryan (Jolene) Gier, and Marlin (Chris) Gier, all of Valley Falls, and Jean (and in Arlene’s words, her favorite son-in-law Doug) Carder, Louisburg; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; four brothers, Marlin, Sabetha; Harlin  (Louise), Topeka; Gary (Kay), Topeka, and John (Sandy), Wellsville; four sisters, Neola Risinger, Perry, Anita Graham, Meriden, Dodie Bolz, Valley Falls, and Helen (Hoot) Gibson, South Dakota; and many, many nieces and nephews and her adopted family at DaVita Dialysis Center in Topeka.

The Memorial Graveside Service will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct., 8, 2016 at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be at 12:30 p.m. at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Valley Falls United Methodist Church or the Jefferson County EMS District 11. Online condolences are welcome at www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.