Viola A. Gaug was born on January 2, 1932 in Ocarche, Oklahoma to Charles and Jesse (Miller) Meyer.  The family made their home in Gentry, Arkansas.  This is where she grew up with her three brothers and three sisters and where she attended school until the 8th grade.

After school, Viola came to Harper to visit and live with one of her sisters.  This is where she met the love of her life, Kenneth Verne Gaug Sr. and they were united in marriage on July 26, 1949, at the Chikaskia Baptist Church, north of Harper.  The young couple started their life by moving around to different areas where they helped build grain elevators.  Settling back in Harper, they made their home by the family farm just northeast of Harper.  They started a family of their own and were blessed with four children: Kenneth Jr., Mary, Sandy, and Vickie.

In addition to being a mother and farm wife, Viola worked away from the home.  First she was a cook at the Harper Grade School.  She then worked as a housekeeper at the Harper Hospital before working as a housekeeper for both the grade school and the Harper Motel.  As a farm wife she enjoyed gardening and canning.  And of course she kept up with many choirs, such as raising chickens and milking cows.

At the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 9 days, Viola passed away at her home in Harper on June 11, 2018.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Jesse; her husband, Kenneth Sr. that passed away February 16, 1994; and her six siblings: Clarence, Henry, and Leroy Meyer, Alice Stephens, Della Sikes, and Cheriot Goodwin.  She will be deeply missed by her four children: Kenneth Gaug Jr. of Harper, Mary Gaug of Harper, Sandy Sander of Strasburg, Missouri, and Vickie Batt of Hoisington, Kansas; grandchildren: J.D. Sander and his wife, Nikki, Lora (Sander) Johnson and her husband, Josh, Chris Batt and his wife, Justice, and Cody Batt and his wife, Malory; six great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Friends may view and register from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Graveside Service is 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2018 at the Harper Cemetery with Roy Jacobs officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice and can be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 613 W 14th ~ Harper, Kansas 67058 is in charge of the arrangements.