NELLIE CLAIRE ATER

Ater

Nellie Claire Ater, age 89, resident of Pittsburg, Kan., died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg. She was born March 17, 1923, in McFall, Mo., the daughter of O.C. Salmon and Ethel Tull Salmon. Nellie graduated from Kincaid High School. While in high school, she played on the basketball team and also played the piano for the Boys' Glee Club. She first married Warren F. Stewart on Dec. 18, 1941. He preceded her in death. She later married Eugene Williams on Nov. 16, 1973. They were married for two years prior to his death in 1975. She later married Ivan Ater on Sept. 6, 1977. He died Aug. 17, 2008.

Nellie helped her husband with the family farm. She also operated grocery stores in both Xenia and Blue Mound. She later worked for The Fort Scott Tribune, the Western Insurance Company and the Bourbon County Courthouse. Nellie played the piano, guitar and violin. She enjoyed gardening and crocheting. She was a member of the Mt. Orum Baptist Church near Redfield, Kan., and was currently attending the Independent Bible Baptist Church in Pittsburg.

Survivors include a son, Chuck Stewart and wife, Nancy, Fort Scott, Kan.; two daughters, Linda Day, Arma, Kansas, and Cory Havice and husband, Don, Pittsburg, Kan.; two daughters-in-law, Karen Stewart, Fort Scott, Kan., and Janie Stewart Robertson, California, Mo.; two step-sons, Ronald Ater and Timothy Ater and a step-daughter, Dixie Kalm and Don Williams. Also surviving are a brother, Frank Higdon and wife, Ruby, Benson, Minnesota; 14 grandchildren, Michael Stewart, Darren Stewart, Tracy Michael, Charles Stewart Jr., Michael A. Stewart, Donald Stewart Jr., Brent Stewart, Rex Henry, Chris Henry, Misty Maschino, Ashley Cramer, Rebecca Young, Justin Young and Scott Young; and several great and great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by two sons, Michael Stewart and Donald Stewart; a grandson, Lenny Stewart, a great-granddaughter, Brenna Bollinger and a son-in-law, James Day.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 4 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Mt. Orum Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Independent Bible Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.