Wanda Audine (Smith) Larsen, 89, formerly of Fort Scott, KS, passed away Thursday evening, May 7, 2020, at the Ozark Nursing and Care Center in Ozark, MO. Wanda was born August 3, 1930, in (a farmhouse near Dry Ridge) Blue Mound, KS, the daughter of Artie Douglas and Charlotte Opal (Bray) Smith.
She graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 1948. She was a member of the Richards Christian Church in Richards, MO. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved all children and “adopted” many friends of her children and grandchildren as well as students from Fort Scott Community College as her own. Many remember her fondly as Grandma Wanda. Before her health declined, she was very active and enjoyed walks, long drives, and shopping. She had a big heart and managed to find friends everywhere she went. She loved her family, church, cooking, sewing, gardening, and playing cards with friends. She often reminisced about her time working at The Western Insurance Company, The Bourbon County Court House, The Red Barn Restaurant, and Fort Scott Community College.
She is survived by two sons, Steve (Joyce) Larsen, Willard, MO, and Brad (Sharon) Larsen, Winfield KS, and two daughters, Beverly Larsen, Ozark, MO and Belinda (Joe) Tucker, Fort Scott, KS. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Dustin (Stacey) Larsen, Springfield MO; Nicole Adams, Nevada, MO; Noelle (Shane) Fast, Eldorado Springs, MO; Ty Larsen, Springfield, MO; Travis (Beth) Larsen, Springfield, MO; Caylin (Jesse) Overfield, Waunakee, WI; Kyle Larsen, Winfield, KS; Anne (Tom) Colvin, Ozark, MO; Joely (Scott) Womeldorff, Kansas City, MO; Miles (Emmah) Dikeman, Fort Scott, KS; and Monica (Jared) Snyder, Fulton, KS, and twenty great-grandchildren, Elsie and Kinley Larsen, Caleb Kettner, Carli Bouray, Monroe Adams, Hailey and Madi Fast, Mason, Shy and Maggie Larsen, Amaya Campbell, Adilyn and Paxton Overfield; Christian and Sophia Colvin, Talon, Tannyn, Truett and Tesher Womeldorff, Korbin and Kinsley Snyder with a baby girl on the way. She is also survived by a sister, Mary Luker of Holton, KS; a sister-in-law, Ida Mae Smith of Overland Park, KS, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Billy, Richard and Dale Smith, a sister-in-law, Betty Smith, brother-in-law, Kenny Luker, two sons, Mike and Richard (Dick) Larsen, and her great-granddaughter Gabriella Campbell.
Services will be private with burial at Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Autism Speaks. Donations may be left in the care of, the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
