DeLoris Howder, 97, of Horton, Kansas passed away on Thursday, August 2, 2024 at the Anew Health Care Center in Hiawatha, Ks.

DeLoris was born to Ernest and Lona Wiley Hollenbeck on December 28, 1926 in Atchison Kansas.

DeLoris was married at the age of 18,but was sadly soon widowed one week later when her husband Robert Williams was killed in WWII while stationed in France in 1944.

DeLoris worked for 6 years at the Horton Garment Factory sewing dresses. She then began taking mail order home study courses in clothing design to make dresses.

At the age of 25, she moved to California where she worked in the Paramount work rooms cutting out costumes. At that time she wanted more than making dresses, so she opened her own company “DeLoris” Manufacturing from 1957 to 1972 in Long Beach, California. At one point she had her designs in 250 stores on the West Coast. At this time she was contacted to design dresses for Elly Mae Clampett for the show, Beverly Hillbillies. By this time she had remarried Bill Obbards who was in the entertainment field and was a singer with his own band. She then had opportunities open for her company to design and manufacturer apparel for country music shows and square dance dresses. Her dresses were shipped all over the United States and Canada.

Deloris has won many accolades and awards for her achievements as a business women. Among them were the Achievers International Merit Award 1979-80. Who- who in American Women in 1981.

She retired her manufacturing business in 1988. In 1972, DeLoris Manufacturing moved to various locations and in 1977 she moved back to Horton, Kansas to take care of her mother.

She is proceeded in death by her mother, father, sister and a granddaughter. Survivors include a son, Glen Obbards (Linda ) of Horton and four grandchildren, Ryan & Shatah Smith, Shelley Smith and J.T. Smith and 8 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at the Church of The Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, August 8, 2024 with visitation at 10:00 A.M. and the funeral service at 11:00 A.M. Memorials are suggested to The Church CLJC 1201 Central Horton Ks.