E. Mariemasters Christiason

OBITUARY: Ellen "Marie" (Foster) Masters Christiason
Ellen "Marie" (Foster) Masters Christiason went to our Savior's Home on Feb. 19, 2013. She was born Sept. 25, 1921, to Luther and Ruth Lucille (Thomas) Foster in Highland.
Between 1942 and 2003, Marie lived in Rossville, Topeka, and Osage City. She has lived with her daughter, Geri, since 2003.
Marie married LeRoy Franklin Masters Aug. 19, 1939, in Highland. In Nov., 1940, they had one daughter, Geri (Masters) Eakin Brubaker. LeRoy passed away in May of 1968. She married Arnold "Chris" Christiason, Sr. in 1969, he passed away in 1986.
Marie became a member of Eastside Baptist Church in Topeka in 1999, and was a former member of Mirian Chapter # 14, OES, first joining in 1950 and having held several offices. She retired from KP&L (now Westar) in 1982. She was an active volunteer working with Heartland Shares, E-Kan, ECAT, and American Red Cross. When she was 80, she organized and led a sewing group called Mission Towers Quilters who made lap robes, walker bags and clothing for area nursing homes and KNI. They also made quilts and blankets for babies being taken into foster care. Dubbed pie lady, Marie was best known for her homemade pies.
Marie is survived by her daughter Geri, a grandson Steve (Ede) Eakin, a granddaughter Ellen Kay (Barry L.) Magner and four great-grandchildren, Katie Eakin, Barry R., Julia and Cody Magner. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers Donald and Richard Foster, both husbands and three granddaughters in infancy.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Sat., Feb. 23, 2013, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave., Topeka. Interment will follow at the the Rossville Cemetery. Marie will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Fri., at the funeral chapel where the family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Midland Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606-2800.