(From Derfelt Funeral Home)
Treva Catherine (Smith) Nunn, of Baxter Springs, passed into eternal rest on Monday, May 13, 2019. She was born on February 17, 1920, in Galena, Kan., the seventh of nine children born to Fred and Clara (Keller) Smith.
Services are under the direction of Derfelt’s Chapel in Baxter Springs. Visitation will be at Derfelt’s on Friday, May 17 at 10 a.m., with funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Lowell Cemetery.
She was a lifelong area resident, and attended Riverton High School, where she met her future husband, Harold Edward Nunn. They were married January 23, 1937, for more than 70 years until Harold’s death on July 30, 2007. They had three children together: Donna Nunn-Matzeder, of Poquoson, Va., Jack H. Nunn (Susan Swannack-Nunn) of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and Treva “Marie” Nunn-Allsup, of Farmington, N.M.
For the first half of their marriage, Treva was a homemaker while Harold worked for the Empire District Electric Company. They made their home in Riverton for most of their marriage. After Harold suffered a life-changing illness in1968, Treva took on many of the responsibilities of the home, and also began working at the Baxter Springs Hospital. Despite Harold’s illness, they enjoyed their golden years together, traveling abroad to Europe, and South America. Treva also traveled to the Holy Land and to Thailand to visit her “adopted” son and daughter and their family.
In addition to Harold, she is preceded in death by her parents and all her siblings. She is survived by her three children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews; and special family friends from Thailand. She is also survived by her best friend and devoted companion, Margaret Pickering.
Treva was of the Baptist faith, as her father was a preacher. She spent decades supporting work in the mission fields, including supporting three generations of missionaries in southeast Asia. She taught Sunday School for over 60 years, including more than 30 years at Fellowship Baptist Church in Baxter Springs. Her class, the Willing Workers, was a special group of ladies. The Christmas parties at Treva’s home were an annual tradition for many years.
In addition to her Sunday School teaching and her support of missionaries, Treva was a 50-year member and past Worthy Matron of Magnolia #158, O.E.S. She also served as a Den Mother for Boy Scouts, and was involved in 4-H and sewing clothes and Christmas stockings for family and friends.
The family would like to express our thanks to Mike Kauffman and her neighbors at the Baxter Springs Senior Living apartments for their care and concern with Treva throughout the years.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation in Treva’s name to support the work of Christian missionaries in the mission fields.
