Cora Belle Bunyard

Cora Belle Bunyard, 94, passed away December 27, 2015 in Meade Kansas. She was born on the Big Springs Ranch, Meade County, Kansas on February 12, 1921. She was the third of four children of Alvia Marsh and Iva Belle (McNinch) Bunyard.

She lived in Meade most of her childhood, moving with her parents to Coats Kansas in the 1930s after her father lost all of his crops and livestock to the dust bowl. The family lived on the Turkey Creek Ranch in rural Coats until they relocated to Brighton Colorado in the late 1950s to be closer to her sister Louise and her family.
Several years later she moved back to Meade where she resided until her death. She worked in several restaurants and cafes in the Meade area until she retired. Cora had a knack of remembering dates and general facts that was astounding. She could tell family and friends of birthdays and other important dates. She also enjoyed following the tabloid stories about famous people, particularly movie stars of the 40s and 50s, and could tell the latest ‘who was married to whom”.

Cora remained a country girl all her life and enjoyed reading the “Fenceposts” magazine with its stores and articles about ranching and farming life. She spent many hours embroidering dresser scarves and pillow cases until she could not see well enough to do such detailed stitching. She dearly loved her black kitty of many years, Tommy, and dog Penny and missed them when she moved to the Lone Tree Retirement Center.

She was preceded in death by her father in 1963, her mother in 1976, brothers Price in 1955 and Orville (Mick) in 1985, and sister Louise in July 2015, a niece, and 2 nephews. She will be reunited with her dogs, Sissy and Tiny, and her beloved cat Tommy. She is survived by her dear friend and caregiver of many years Carla Freeman of Meade, and niece Barbara Bettger of Brighton CO, and nephews Greg Hammond of Northglenn CO, Jack Bunyard of Augusta Ks, Danny Bunyard of Denver CO and their families as well as her dog Penny.

A memorial service will be held at the Lone Tree Retirement Center in the future. She will be laid to rest with her parents in Coats Kansas at the Coats Cemetery. Private services at Coats will be held at a later date.
Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade, Kansas, has been entrusted with arrangements.