Edith Elizabeth Torrey

Edith E. Torrey, 93, passed away Thursday January 31, 2008 at Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center in Wamego. Born On May 11, 1914 in the St. George Township, she was the daughter of Arthur and Julia (Picolet) Fechter. She attended and graduated from St. George High school in 1932. On February 16, 1942, she married Earl J. Torrey in Colorado Springs. He preceded her in death on March 29, 2002 after 60 years of marriage. Edith taught for nine years from 1932-1941 in the one room schoolhouses in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties. She was a very fine lifelong seamstress and made clothing and alterations for friends and family. She also made hundreds of blankets for friends, family, the V.A. Hospital in Topeka, and for the shelter for the homeless in Manhattan. She received most of the fabric for the blankets from friends who knew she would use it to help others. Edith was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church of Wamego as well as a lifetime member of the women’s auxiliary where she prepared many funeral dinners. She was also a member of the Pottawatomie County E.H.U. for over ten years. She is survived by: her daughter, Barbara Smith and husband Quinton of Ann Arbor, MI; her sons Delbert E. Torrey and wife Sherry of Drummond, OK, and Donald P. Torrey and wife Patricia of Stillwater, OK; her youngest daughter Teresa A. Gull and husband John of Topeka, KS; her six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; her brothers, A. Dean Fechter of Belvue, KS, Vinson Fechter of Wamego, KS, Victor Fechter of Manhattan, KS, and Larry Fechter of Wamego, KS. In addition to her husband, Edith was preceded in death by a brother Harold Fechter. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday February 5, 2008 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church of Wamego with burial following in St. Bernard’s Cemetery. A rosary will be said Monday evening at 7:00 p.m., with visitation following until 8:30 p.m. Memorials have been designated for Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center or Heart of America Hospice and contributions may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, 66547.