Charlotte Josephine Means

Charlotte Josephine Means, 90, of Manhattan, went to be with our Lord on Wednesday, April 2nd, at Mercy Regional Health Center with family by her side. Charlotte Josephine Harris was born November 11, 1923 in Beloit, Kansas to the late Clemons LeRoy. and Emily (Holbrook) Harris. She went to Cawker Grade School through the fourth grade (1933) in Cawker City, Kansas. During the depression Char's family moved to Beloit, Kansas. She started the fifth grade and graduated from High School in Beloit. Char was a member of the First Christian Church in Beloit. She worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell and was a member of the Naomi Chapter #28 of Eastern Star until her marriage. Char was united in marriage to the late Harry W. Means on January 16, 1944 at the First Christian Church in Beloit, Kansas. They then moved to Junction City, Kansas where Harry was employed as a telegraph operator at the Union Pacific Railroad until he was called to serve his country from 1944 to the end of World War II. Char lived with Harry's parents in Salina, Kansas when he went to boot camp and then joined Harry in Moscow, Idaho where she was the secretary to the Doctor of Agriculture at Idaho University while Harry was learning to be a radioman for the USS Cape Gloucester Naval Ship. After the war Char and Harry moved back to Junction City where she transferred her membership to First Christian Church and served as church secretary/treasurer for 15 years. She also played the piano/organ for church services, weddings and funerals. Char and Harry started Junior Church, where Char was pianist for Junior Church, and Harry served as the Lay Minister for 10 years. In 1969 she and Harry moved to Manhattan, Kansas and became charter members of the University Christian Church where she played the organ for the first church service for 10 years. She was a life time member of the Pilots Club International since 1972 serving as official pianist for the Kansas/Missouri District Pilots. She was the executive secretary to the President of the Manhattan Christian College from 1969 until her retirement in 1983. She helped establish the Woman's World at Manhattan Christian College. She was a member of the Pleasant Hour Study Club, Old Timers Club of the Union Pacific Railroad, and a former member of the Uptown Senior Band playing the piano/keyboard until August of 2009 when they disbanded. Char is survived by two daughters, Barbara Stuke of Topeka and Carol Marrero with husband Luis of New Smyrna Beach, FL; a son, Harry (Skip) W. Means, Jr. with wife Karen of Olympia, WA. Also surviving is adopted great granddaughter Anna Maria Morris with husband Taylor of Ft. Meyer, Fl.; a brother-in-law, Wesley Harm in Morton, IL. She is survived by 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Char is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry, her sisters and their husbands; Leota Frances and Max McClintock, Mary Eliose and Duane McClintock and her sister Emily Elizabeth Harm. Friends are invited to view Char at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, 1317 W. Poyntz Ave., on Wednesday, April 9th, from 9:00am to 8:00pm, and at the University Christian Church from 12:00pm until 2:00pm on Thursday April 10th. David Pape and Ken Cable will officiate the funeral service, beginning at 2:00pm. Burial will follow at the Sunrise Cemetery, 2901 Stagg Hill Rd. in Manhattan. The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harry and Charlotte Means Scholarship Fund for Manhattan Christian College, 1415 Anderson Ave, Manhattan, KS., or through the funeral home. This scholarship was funded from the sale of over 800 clocks the couple had collected.