On March 23, 2023, the world lost another bright light with the passing of Jerry Louise (May) Sowell, a 98-year-old resident of Pretty Prairie, Kansas.

Jerry Louise May was born Sept. 1, 1924, in Wilburton, Okla., in a coal miners’ camp. A woman who started life with the humblest beginnings built a life and family full of love, light, and laughter.

Jerry was the life of the party, and her favorite thing was to make other people happy. She was an entertainer at heart, she loved a good song, taking a turn around the dance floor, drinking a totty, and having a good conversation with family and friends. Jerry was always available for a new adventure in life.

She once danced with Cesar Romero in California. She was on a traveling roller skating team and could light a match that she placed in her mouth then spin down and strike on the roller rink floor.

During World War II, she was a rivet girl at Boeing, and after the war her family was known for making sure veterans had a warm place to sleep at night and they never left their home without a full belly in the morning. She survived the loss of three husbands, Ellsworth Long, Eldon West II, and Elton Cothell Sowell. She raised her three children, Eldon West III (deceased, Jeannette West), Janis White (James White), and Mandy Kentzler (Mark Kentzler), to make the world a little better place while they are here. Each one went on to build a career that served their communities and build beautiful families of their own, giving Jerry more love than she could have ever imagined. In her later years, Jerry’s favorite pass time was to sit on her porch surrounded by her family, enjoying a cool Kansas breeze and watching the evening sky be painted by light, and talking about life. She held a special place in her heart for all her grandsons, James L. White II (Anita White), Joshua L. White (Jackie White), Jordan Kentzler (Taren Kentzler), Logan F. West (Jenna West), Jacob Kentzler (Megan Kentzler), each one unique and special to her, she loved them each so deeply. If you met her for the first time, she was guaranteed to brag about “her boys” to you. As the boys grew, they all obtained their college educations and careers she was so proud of, they created families that filled her home and heart even more, giving her eight Great-grandchildren, Abigail White, James White III, Ava May White, Amity White, Jaxson Kentzler, Addison Kentzler, Laken West and Liam West.

Jerry will always be remembered by her family and friends for the light she brought into every room she entered, the sound of her laughter ringing in our ears, and the fortitude to persevere that she instilled in every person she gave to this world. She will forever be cherished.

Parish rosary will be 7 p.m. Monday, March 27, at Livingston Funeral Home in Kingman. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, at St.

Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Mt. Vernon. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Lone Star Cemetery, Pretty Prairie.

Memorials may be made with Pretty Prairie EMS or Kingman Healthcare Center, both in care of the funeral home.