Mary M. Gaston Chamberlin

Mary M. Gaston Chamberlin, 98, of Seneca, Kansas, died Wednesday, June 13, 2001, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. She was transferred there from Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca where she had been a resident since April of this year.
     She was born September 17, 1902, at Seneca, the daughter of L. Howard and Isabel Johnson Gaston. Mary grew up in Seneca and graduated from the Seneca Public High School in 1920. Following graduation, she worked as a dental assistant for Dr. J.L. Wheatly from 1920 to 1949. In 1949 she moved to Missoula, Montana, where she worked as a dental assistant and took care of her brother, Charles, who had been in ill health since World War II.
     On December 18, 1949, she married Nat Chamberlin at Missoula. He died September 3, 1953. Mary worked at a tuberculosis sanitarium at Galena, Montana, for eight years. In 1961 she moved to Topeka and was employed as a housemother for the Phi Delta Zeta Fraternity at Washburn University for three years. During Governor Bill Avery's term in office, she was the head of housekeeping at the governor's mansion. In the fall of 1967 she was employed at Manhattan as housemother at the Clovia Scholarship House for three years and at Sigma Chi Fraternity for three years, both at Kansas State University. In May of 1974 she retired, moved back to Seneca, and lived in Terrace Heights.
     She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, the Women's Fellowship at the church, and the Nemaha County Historical Society. Mary was active in the community, enjoyed playing cards, knitting, cross-stitch, crocheting, watching baseball, and discussing it with her friends.
     Survivors are a stepson, John Chamberlin of Darby, Montana, a step-grandson, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by six brothers, Arthur, John, Chester, Charles, Karl, Louis and three sisters, Pauline Gaston, Ada Rucker, and Gertrude Gaston.
     Memorial services will be 11 A.M. Saturday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Inurnment will be following the services at the Seneca City Cemetery.
     Memorial contributions may be given for the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Seneca, Kansas, 66538.