Katie Jeanell Langley

Katie Jeanell (Nell) Langley of Emporia, Kansas, passed away at home on January 3rd, 2025, at the age of 89.

Nell was born on December 26, 1935, in Conecuh County, AL, to Jessie (Robinson) and John Ervin Booker. At 16, she was married to Manford F. Langley in Castleberry, AL. Their union brought four children, Mike Langley (Marsha) of Emporia, Mark Langley (Gale) of Topeka, Stevie Langley (Ramona) of Wichita, and Cindy Fryer (Jeff) of St. Louis. They relocated to Kansas in 1967 where they continued their 64 years of marriage.

Manford and Nell spent hours in their enormous garden raising their favorite southern foods, including butter beans, black-eyed peas, okra, field corn, and peanuts. Many hot summer days were spent shelling the beans and peas and shucking and creaming the corn.

Nell was passionate about caring for animals. Through the years, she had several dogs, a pet goose, two pet squirrels, a little blackbird, and a large flock of ducks and geese. Their two ponds provided a place for their wild birds as well as many fish.  She was especially pleased with her large albino catfish and enjoyed watching them eat bread she fed them daily.

Short-order cooking was one of Nell’s specialties. She could whip up her delicious chicken-fried steak, garden vegetables, cornbread, and French fries lickety-split.  She always made sure that everyone was full to the brim and never left her home hungry.

Her eight grandchildren were the light of her life. Matt Langley (Jill), Missy Baker (Doug), Michael Langley (Jennie), Steven Langley, Brandon Fryer (Sydney), Elizabeth Wiegner (Jonathan), Sarah Langley, and John Langley (Stephanie) can all tell you of the special times they had at Granny’s farm. She was happy to hold her ninth great-grandchild shortly before she passed.

A graveside service will be held Friday, Jan. 10th, 2025, at 11:00 at the Cottonwood Cemetery in Emporia, Kansas. She will be buried next to Manford, who she sorely missed. Memorials have been established with the Hand In Hand Hospice or the American Diabetes Association. Contributions may be sent through Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, PO Box #175, Emporia, Kansas 66801 which is in charge of arrangements.