BEVERLY FLEHARTY

LIBERAL- Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Konantz Warden Funeral Home in Lamar for Beverly Maxine (VanKirk) Fleharty, 86, who died Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, Kan.

A visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 9 a.m.

Condolences may be left online at www.konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include her daughter, Margie O’Toole and husband Larry, Springfield; sons, Richard Probis, Ft Scott, Kan., James Fleharty, Ft Scott, Kan. and Gary Fleharty, Parsons, Kan. and siblings, Judy McManis and husband Bill, Pittsburg, Kan., Jean Taylor, Pittsburg, Kan., Donna Thompson and husband Brent, Liberal, Dixie Hayes, Owasso, Okla. and Jimmy VanKirk, Mulberry, Kan. She is also survived by the mothers of her grandchildren, Kathy Probis and Deanna Fleharty and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jim and siblings, Bob VanKirk, Jack VanKirk, Bonnie VanKirk, David VanKirk, Dorothy VanKirk and Rebecca VanKirk.

Mrs. Fleharty was born in Liberal, where she grew up, to Arthur and Marjorie (McClellan) VanKirk. She was a 1955 graduate of Liberal High School and was the annual queen that year. After high school she traveled to California to visit family and remained for a year. She was briefly married to Johnny Probis. On Nov. 29, 1961, she married Jim Fleharty and they remained married until his death in 2008. She worked in many fields during her life, including being a bank teller, cashier, waitress and she worked for Peerless and Norvell for several years.

She was a great cook. Life was hard, but she held on to life. She was beautiful inside and out and was always willing to help someone who needed help. She loved her family with all of her heart and will be missed by them.