Alma Fern Mann, age 96, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother passed away Friday, August 18, 2006. She was preceded in death by her father, Abe Smith; mother, Nellie Smith; sisters, Irene Smith, Essie Niemeir; brother, Harry Smith; and daughter Barbara Magruder.

Alma was born Sept. 10, 1909 and raised in rural Fort Scott, Kansas. After moving into town to be a telephone operator, she met and married Claude Mann.

They moved to Wichita during WWII to support the war effort and remained there after the war. She kept very busy raising five girls and later worked as a PBX operator at the Lassen Hotel.

She is survived by four daughters, Marita Lee, Shirley Dwyer, Claudia Elliott and Roberta Kautz; 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. She was a very special lady and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 22 at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 W. Highway 54, in Wichita, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.