Eloise Marian Bourque

Eloise Marian Ward Bourque, 99 years old, died Thursday, October 19, 2017, at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, Kansas. She was born August 18, 1918, in New Canton, Illinois, the eldest child of Giles and Gertrude Ward. Eloise grew up a farm girl in Illinois, attending Brewster Grade School, New Canton Community High School and Gem City Business College in Quincy, Illinois. Though she traveled to almost every state in the nation, she never failed to see the best that the smaller world had to offer. She told everyone 'Kansas is the best-kept secret in the nation.' She felt lucky to make Manhattan her home where she moved in 1950 with her daughters. After business college, Eloise worked in Florida and in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She married Charles James Bourque there in 1940. They later divorced. After moving to Manhattan, she worked at K-State in Crop Improvement, in Business Administration, and in the Economics Department for President Emeritus Farrell. Later she worked for William Robinson, Superintendent of Manhattan Public Schools. In 1961, Eloise began working with Dr. Phil Eckert and Dr. Raymond Seltzer at Agri-Research now known as DPRA. Eloise was Administrative Assistant at DPRA until her retirement in 1989. Eloise was an active member of the First United Methodist Church. She was a long-time member of PEO (Chapter IL) and Pilot Club, holding offices, including President, in both organizations. She was a member of the Manhattan Arts Center, the Riley County Historical Society and a Friend of the Sunset Zoo. She was a Friend of the Manhattan Public Library, the K-State Library, and of McCain Auditorium. She was a patron of the arts and was in the first docent class at the Beach Museum of Art. She had a loving nature with enough time and love left over for befriending everyone she met. She regarded a good education as the highest achievement one could have, and she instilled a love of learning, books, and art in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In addition to her daughters, Maria Lynette Ford and Chalise Annette Bourque, both of Sarasota, FL, Eloise is survived by her sister Awana Stauffer, Colorado Springs, CO, her sister-in-law Anne Ward, Quincy, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son-in-law, Robert Michael Ford, and by siblings Lynette Parks, Melvin Ward, and Bette Howick and by brothers-in-law Charles Parks, Warren Stauffer and Les Howick. She is also survived by four beloved grandsons, Dr. Sean Anthony Ford (Wanrudee), Eau Claire, WI, Dr. Michael Edward Ford (Lauren), Dobbs Ferry, NY, Philip Brandt Miner (Sara), Brooklyn, NY, Nathan Thomas Miner (Tara), Medford, MA, and by one dear granddaughter, Diana Chalise Miner, Mustang, OK. She also leaves behind eight great-grandchildren, Collin, Payton, Savanna, Madison, Dakota, Lilianna, Isabel, and Genevieve. In addition, she leaves fifteen nieces and nephews, numerous great-nieces and nephews and young people everywhere who will forever remember her as 'Aunt Eloise.' Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The “Celebration of Life” will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, October 24 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Manhattan, or to the Good Samaritan Fund at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community. To send online condolences visit the funeral home website at www.irvinparkview.com.