Lorraine F. Sommers

Lorraine F. Sommers, 101, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died Monday, October 6, 2025.

Rosary will be at 7:00 pm, Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Friday, October 24, 2025, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Interment will take place at St. Mary ‘s Cemetery, Newton, KS.

Lorraine grew up on a farm in Newton, KS. She attended Emporia State College and earned her Business Certificate, moved to Topeka and became a working girl. Then she met the love of her life, Edward Sommers, and they married in 1948. They had 52 wonderful years together, raising their four children, who were very lucky to call them Mom and Dad.

Lorraine was a great homemaker, super cook, excellent seamstress, and wonderful loving, wife and mother. When the grandchildren began arriving, she turned all those skills up a notch or two. There were always cinnamon rolls and cookies, birthday cakes and pop in the fridge, stories to read, games to play, walks to the park, new jammies to wear, and enough love to go round for everyone. She was a 65+ year member of Blessed Sacrament Church, active in the Altar Society, the church and school library, and leading her daughter’s Camp Fire group at Blessed Sacrament School.

In her “after the kids moved out” years, she took up the game of golf, enjoyed golf trips with her favorite partner, and playing with the McDonald’s Women’s Group. She loved playing bridge and kept that up until just a few years ago. She volunteered her sewing skills at the hospital, making things for babies and older patients. She was well-read, and stayed informed about the world right up to the time of her death. She made beautiful clothing for herself and her children, and fun clothes and costumes for the grands. She loved taking trips to the ocean, the mountains, and the southwest. The family lovingly joke that she was rarely found at home without an apron on (sewn by her from her favorite pattern), and there was always a tissue in the pocket. She was a woman of strong faith, and lived her life with ordinary grace, purpose and compassion. She will be sorely missed by all whose lives she touched.

Preceded in death by her husband, Edward George Sommers; parents, Frank and Mary Vetter; sister, Barbara O’Sullivan.

Survived by her daughter, Mary (Steve) Grant of Lawrence, KS; sons, Steve (Ruth) Sommers of Sheridan, WY, John (Jane) Sommers of McPherson, KS, Matthew (Mary) Sommers of Red Lodge, MT; grandchildren, Pete (Keri) Grant, Amanda (Orion) Esch, Josh (Elle) Grant, Luke (Sarah) Sommers, Ben (Shanna) Sommers, Rachael (Dustin) Warner, Bart (Brianna) Sommers, Doug (Hanna) Sommers, Sam Sommers, Sarah, Sommers; great-grandchildren, Maisy and Owen Grant, Grant and Hazel Lorraine Esch, Louise Grant, Abigail and Levi Sommers, Brenna, Valerie, and Kenzie Sommers, Laila, Olivia, and Hallee Warner, Kiera, Eve, Leonides, and Cecilia Sommers, Emma and Ava Sommers; numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial has been established with: Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E. Rockhill St. #403, Wichita, KS 67206.