Margaret E. (Schoenhofer) Stevens

Stevens, Margaret E. (Schoenhofer), passed away on October 4th having lived a long and happy life. Rosary service will be 7:00 P.M., Wednesday October 8th at Downing and Lahey East Chapel. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, October 9th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. She was the oldest of Carl and Matilda Schoenhofers eleven children. She was born on December 11, 1912 in her grandfather Schoenhofers home near St. Paul, KS. She lived on the family farm south of Walnut, KS, where the family raised crops and her father Carl also bred award winning Guernsey and Jersey dairy cattle. After completing her schooling in Walnut, Margaret enrolled in Parsons Business College. While attending school she rented a room in Mrs. Fosters boarding house. It was there that she met her beloved husband Hugh (Steve) Stevens. Mrs. Foster wanted her to meet this “nice young man from Utah”. He occasionally lived at her boarding house because he was a traveling salesman working for Roland Originals, a fashionably chic line of womens apparel out of Dayton, Ohio. After a whirlwind romance she married Hugh and traveled his mid-west territory with him in his new Studebaker convertible, serving as his model and assistant. After the birth of their first child, she assumed the role of mother and homemaker. After two moves, to Wichita and Parsons, and the addition of another child they relocated to Kansas City where their third child was born. For many years the family took root in Kansas City, while Hugh continued to travel. She eventually moved to Wichita, in 1952, when Hugh and her brother Charles partnered on the purchase of the Kau Kau Korner Drive-in Restaurant. It soon became highly successful and attracted the attention of Colonel Harland Sanders, as he traveled the U.S. trying to get restaurateurs to use and sell his special “finger lickin good” chicken recipe. She was never fond of the Kau Kaus fried chicken recipe and urged them to try the Colonels new one. This resulted in them becoming one of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisees. The Col. and his wife Claudia became personal friends, and he was a guest in their home when he made personal appearances in Wichita. After Hughs death, Margaret and Charles were among a handful of franchisees honored at an impressive ceremony in Las Vegas, where they received a rare Forty Year Award. Margaret enjoyed traveling, she and Hugh had the opportunity to visit many parts of the world on extended trips with family and friends. She loved being a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader. She especially loved being with her 9 grandchildren. When they spent over nights with her, they made corncob bubble pipes, homemade ice cream, butterfly nets, competed in turtle races, played rummy-o, told stories and much more. She was an avid and skillful card player, gin rummy and bridge being her favorite games. She inherited her mothers love and talent for painting. Margarets love for flowers and nature was beautifully captured in many of her paintings. She was also a gifted storyteller and writer. Her enchanting “Arabelle and Ratty” Childrens stories will be cherished by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also authored two biographical histories. Through tremendous effort and time, she researched the history and stories of her mother Tillies life and her husband Hughs. This was a wonderful historical gift to her family. She divided her time between her home in Wichita and Sun City West, AZ and she especially enjoyed spending time with the many close friends she had in both places. She was deeply committed to her faith and most of her life she was affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church of the Magdalen and more recently with St. Thomas Aquinas Church. She was also a longtime member of Crestview Country Club. She was preceded in death and will be welcomed to her eternal reward by her parents, Carl and Matilda Schoenhofer; an infant daughter, Elizabeth Ann; her beloved husband, Hugh; five brothers, Don, Edward, Charles, Earl and David Schoenhofer; and one sister, Lorraine (Peggy) Otis. She is survived by her children John Clark (Annamaria) Stevens of Scottsdale, AZ, James (Ann) Stevens of Wichita, and Lynn (Brien) Buell of Fort Collins, CO. She cherished her nine grandchildren Tom Stevens and Jill (Shawn) Olson; Juli (Mike) Yarnall, Lori (Mike) Lassman, Lisa (Randy) Oehmke, and Brian (Alexandra) Stevens; Patrick (Carie) Buell, Lauren and Lisa Buell as well as her eleven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Claire Ryan, her brothers Larry (Marge) Schoenhofer, Art (Joanie) Schoenhofer, Bill (Carrie) Schoenhofer, and her sister-in-laws Sallie, Savina and Peggy Schoenhofer and well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Her generosity and warm spirit touched many lives and endeared her to many people. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to The Lords Diner, 520 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214 or the Catholic Care Center, 6700 E. 45th North, Bel Aire, KS 67226. Rosary service will be 7:00 P.M., Wednesday October 8th at Downing and Lahey East Chapel.