Vada LoRayne (Ellis) Unrein was born August 10, 1940 at her parents’ home in Phillips County, Kansas, west of Phillipsburg to Arthur Ellis and Lucy Fern Gaines Ellis. She passed away peacefully Saturday morning, December 19, 2020 in Buhler, Kansas at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Center, which had been her home for the past 5 years.
Vada had three siblings, her two older brothers, Vincent Dean and Harold Lee, and baby sister Connie Fae.
As a child, she lived in several states with relatives when her parents divorced. She was raised by several aunts and uncles from the age of 5-15. When she moved back to Kansas to live with her father, she graduated from Gaylord Rural High School in 1958. After high school, she attended one year at Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma. She wanted to be a nurse, but didn’t get to fulfill that dream. She lived in Denver for awhile and then moved to Beloit to live near her brother Harold and his family.
On October 5, 1963, Vada married Alvin A. Unrein, Sr. in Beloit. They met while she was waiting tables at what was then the Davidson’s Café. He asked her on a date, and they married a year later. Alvin had four children when they married, and they all decided to call her “Mops”, because they called their dad “Pops”. She enjoyed helping raise her four stepchildren, Alvin Jr., Raymond, Sharon, and Velda. Together, Vada and Alvin had two daughters, Janice and Shannon. They were blessed to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary surrounded by family and friends in 2003.
Vada waited tables and cooked at various restaurants n Beloit, and began working at the Mitchell County Hospital as a cook. They were in need of a Dietary Manager, so she took correspondence classes and became certified to work in that capacity for 26 years before retirement. She was a life member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary and the American Legion Women, holding different offices through the years.
Along with her family, Vada also loved her dogs. Peaches, Buddy, and Scruffy were three of her favorites. She loved spending time with her family, celebrating all the life events along the way. Through the years, she was able to take some fun memorable trips with Alvin, her children, and grandchildren. The highlights of her travels included Idaho, Oregon, Florida, California, Tennessee, along with several other states. Friday night Bingo at the VFW was always on her agenda after the week was over. Her sense of humor, storytelling, and infectious laugh will always be treasured.
After Alvin passed away, Vada moved to Hutchinson in 2007, where she worked as one of the lunch ladies at Morgan Elementary School for about seven years. She really enjoyed seeing the children every day. After developing some health issues that no longer allowed her to live by herself, she moved to Sunshine Meadows Retirement Center in Buhler, Kansas to their assisted living neighborhood. About a year and a half ago, she moved to their Heartland neighborhood, where she enjoyed the group activities, crocheting, reading and listening to books, and watching game shows on TV. She crocheted and made many beautiful afghans and quilts through the years for children, grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Alvin in 2005, brother Harold Lee Ellis, son Raymond, daughter-in-law Barbara Unrein, and son-in-law Arlen Gates.
Survivors include son Alvin A. Unrein, Jr. and wife Judy of Assaria, daughter-in-law Tamara Unrein of Wallace, daughter Sharon Otter and husband Paul of Great Bend, daughter Velda Gates of Hutchinson, daughter Janice Peters and husband Larry of Beloit, daughter Shannon Eisele and husband Michael of Cleveland, TN; 19 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Michael, Brian, Eric, Amy, Maruel, Ray Jr., Jamie, Misty, Madison, Katelyn, Miranda, Lydel, Lance, Stefanie, Matthew, Marty, Tyler, and David; 30 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; sister, Connie Bruning of Benton, AR; sister-in-law Rachel Ellis of Lawrence; brother Vincent Ellis of San Marcos, CA; along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
Family-only memorial services will be at 2 PM Tuesday, December 22 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home & will be live-streamed, followed by public graveside services at Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit. Cremation has been chosen & there will be no visitation. Memorials may be given to Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community.