Chairyth Melander

Chairyth Melander died after a brief illness on Monday, May 3, 2021 in Lenexa at the age of 88. Memorial services are planned at 11 a.m. Monday, May 10, at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 9100 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kan. Services also will be live-streamed online at the church’s website. For a link, contact the church at worship@lcrpv.org  or (913) 649-0438.

Chairy was born October 6, 1932, to Walter and Mervil Frear in Republican City, Nebraska. From the age of 2, she was raised in Republican City by her grandmother. She worked there as a switchboard operator starting as a teen. She married Dale Melander and in 1958, the couple relocated to Abilene, Kansas. Chairy then worked as an accountant for several businesses including the A.L. Duckwall Stores Co. In 1970, they relocated to Shawnee, Kansas. Shortly afterward, she started working for United Telecommunications (later Sprint) in Fairway, and retired after 28 years there.

Chairy was a member of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Johnson County Genealogical Society and Shawnee Garden Club. She was an avid gardener, and she loved to cook for anyone and everyone. She enjoyed sewing as well researching the history of her family and her community.

She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie, and extended family members including cousins Tom Skeels of Omaha, Neb., Peggy Dennis of Kensington, Kansas, and Lisa, Mike and Richard Mittan of Denver, Colo., and Janice Wulfekoetter and family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and son-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Chairy’s name to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 9100 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66206, Great Plains SPCA, 5424 Antioch Drive, Merriam, KS 66202, and Elara Caring Hospice, 9233 Ward Parkway, Suite 201, Kansas City MO 64114