11/18/2025
Elizabeth Mae Prose of Little River, Kansas, passed away November 15, 2025, in her home at the age of 97. She was born September 27, 1928, in rural Little River, the daughter of Harry L. and Lena (Greibel) Goodrick. She was named after her grandmothers. Elizabeth was a lifelong Little River resident. She graduated from Little River High School in 1946. Elizabeth worked for the public school as the head cook from 1968 until her retirement in 1990. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Little River, where she served as church treasurer, was a member of the choir and Women’s Fellowship. Elizabeth volunteered at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River Library, and the Little River Senior Center. She enjoyed gardening, canning walking, reading, being a homemaker. Elizabeth crocheted an afghan for every one of her children and grandchildren. She was a Kansas University basketball fan and enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren’s sporting activities. On April 10, 1948, Elizabeth married Lea E. Prose, in Little River. He preceded her in death on September 26, 1994. She was also preceded in death by her parents, three brothers - Byron Goodrick Sr., Howard Goodrick, and Leroy Goodrick, sister Marcelee Samms, and two grandsons, Ryan Prose and Tanner Fessler. Elizabeth is survived by her four children, Patricia Smitheran and husband Carl of Council Grove, KS, Robert Prose of Inman, KS, Loretta Birchard and husband Bob of Wheaton, IL, and Richard Prose and wife Vivian of Emporia, KS, and sister-in-law, Dorothy Stagner of Little River, KS. She also had thirteen grandchildren - Brent Smitheran (Tiffany) of Spring Hill, KS, Troy Prose (Elisha) of Little River, KS, Amber Prose (wife Kat) of Lotus, TX, Amy Prose of San Antonio, TX, Justin Birchard of Batavia, IL, Clinton Prose of Reading, KS, Julie Waltemath (Troy) of Augusta, KS, Andrew Birchard (Daisy Matthews) of Durango, CO, Marija Birchard of Warrenville, IL, Kohl Prose (Kasey Beasack) of Olpe, KS, Jared Fessler (Susan) of Emporia, KS, Lance Fessler of Emporia, KS, and Dillon Fessler of Fortson, GA, and thirteen great grandchildren, James Prose, Brooks Prose, Beckett Prose, Greyson Prose, Skyler Smitheran, Bryson Smitheran, Addison Waltemath, Creighton Waltemath, Maeve Birchard, Tanner Fessler, Mackena Fessler, Samuel Fessler, Cecilia Fessler and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be at the Congregational Church Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Ted Weis officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 A.M. until service time with family present. Burial will be at the Bean Memorial Cemetery, Little River. Memorials may be given to the Congregational Church or Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.
